NEWS
Newsletter No. 1
National Mapping Survey – It’s over, time for analysis!
The national mapping survey of human bio-collections, which opened on February 12, officially closed on May 18, 2026. We warmly thank all the structures that took the time to respond and thus contributed to this collective effort.
As a reminder, this survey is an essential milestone for the project and fulfills a government mandate: to better understand the existing biological collections dedicated to research in France and to evaluate the storage capacities of the structures that manage them, in order to more effectively guide efforts in structuring national biobanking.
What now?
The collected data is now undergoing in-depth analysis. A webinar to present the results will be organized soon (date to be announced) in order to share the main findings of this mapping with you.
To (re)discover the survey
Three presentation webinars took place on February 24, March 17, and March 24. The survey presentation video as well as the replays remain accessible:
- on our website: https://www.frbionet.fr/enquete-cartographie/
- on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@frbionet?si=1pmJqt2br5lZS9Xn
All information as well as the FAQ remain available on the project page..
For any questions, you can write to parfait.manga@cncr.fr.
Expert Insight
CRB Interoperability: OSIRIS, a structuring reference framework
Data interoperability in healthcare is a major challenge for fostering the sharing and reuse of information from various research and care structures. In this context, centers (university hospitals, general hospitals, cancer centers, private clinics, etc.) play a central role by standardizing their data to facilitate interoperability and the sharing of information associated with biological samples.
The OSIRIS* reference framework was developed to structure and harmonize oncology data, notably by offering a common framework for sample description. Thanks to OSIRIS, data produced by different BRCs (Biological Resource Centers) can be easily compared and integrated, which facilitates collaborative research.
Specifically, OSIRIS allows:
- standardizing essential information about the patient, cancer, samples, etc.,
- guaranteeing data traceability and quality,
- making BRC information systems compatible, simplifying secure sharing and centralized querying of multiple databases.
Designed in a modular way, OSIRIS today covers essential biological sample data (identifier, date, location, etc.) and can be extended according to the needs of the FrBioNet project.
It relies on a pragmatic approach, as close as possible to the data actually available, with possible input directly from hospital information systems.
Its development is based on co-construction involving all stakeholders (healthcare professionals, data experts, technical teams) and remains aligned with national and European strategies. To support the community, several tools are offered:
- a catalog detailing each data point and its rules,
- a collaborative input guide, validated by real-world use cases, describing the terminologies used, input instructions, source prioritization, and concrete examples,
- a physical data model ensuring consistent implementation.OSIRIS thus constitutes a concrete lever for operational interoperability, promoting collaborative research and the valuation of both research data and real-world data.
* Guérin J*, Laizet Y*, Le Texier V*, Chanas L, Rance B, Koeppel F, Lion F, Gourgou S, Martin AL, Tejeda M, Toulmonde M, Cox S, Hess E, Rousseau-Tsangaris M, Jouhet V, Saintigny P. OSIRIS: A Minimum Data Set for Data Sharing and Interoperability in Oncology. JCO Clin Cancer Inform. 2021 Mar;5:256-265. doi: 10.1200/CCI.20.00094. PMID: 33720747; PMCID: PMC8140800. * J.G., Y.L., and V.L.T. contributed equally to this work.
Results of the External Quality Assessments – 2025 Campaign
The results of the 2025 FrBioNet External Quality Assessment (EQA) campaign were officially communicated on March 30, 2026, by our service provider, the Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL). This first edition marks an important step and relied on the participation of 56 centers, demonstrating a remarkable mobilization of the community.
This campaign is a major structuring initiative for the FrBioNet network. It actively contributes to strengthening the harmonization of practices, guaranteeing the reliability of pre-analytical processes, and supporting a continuous quality improvement approach within participating biobanks.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their involvement, rigor, and contribution to the success of this campaign. Their collective commitment is essential to advancing the quality and performance of activities within FrBioNet.
We look forward to sharing the detailed analyses from this campaign and opening registration for the 2026 edition soon.
Publication of V1 of the glossary of terms related to biobanks
FrBioNet is making a glossary of terms related to biobanks available to the community. This deliverable brings together the main technical, scientific, legal, and regulatory terms related to our professions: BRC managers, legal experts, ethicists, regulatory affairs officers, clinicians, and other actors in the field.
This collective work aims to propose a common vocabulary, clarify key concepts in the sector, and facilitate exchanges between the different professionals involved in the management, use, and valuation of biological resources. This glossary was designed as a practical tool, at the service of the community, to support biobank activities and foster a better understanding of scientific, regulatory, ethical, and organizational challenges. It is now available in the "Resources" section of the FrBioNet website. It will be regularly enriched.
New FrBioNet visual identity
At the beginning of March, we were very happy to present our brand-new logo. More than just a graphic update, this new identity embodies our project and the energy we put into developing it with you every day. The deep blue highlights the expertise related to the cold chain, while the network graphic embodies the mission of bringing people together across all territories. More than a visual evolution, this signature reaffirms a commitment: to connect stakeholders and work together in the service of the biobank community.
📆 FrBioNet event schedule
The calendar for upcoming meetings is taking shape with the organization of several days within FrBioNet:
- Le June 24, 2026 FrBioNet Experts' Day will take place. Based on the same principle as the one organized last September, this event brings together all those who advance this project on a daily basis.
- Le June 29, 2026 The project's information webinar will be held, organized to present its objectives, progress, and outlook, and to disseminate this information as widely as possible, fostering broad participation and open access for all.
- Le September 24, 2026 Will be marked by the FrBioNet National Day. Open to all actors in human biobanking, this day aims to facilitate exchanges between speakers from all backgrounds.
