The Biobank, a pillar at the heart of the biobank.cy CoE, is focusing on archiving biological material and pertinent medical information from both healthy volunteers and patients with diverse diseases. This initiative is embracing Cypriot citizens of all ages, genders, religions, languages, ethnicities, and community backgrounds.

biobank.cy has a diverse team of experts, ensuring maintenance of the highest standards of data and sample integrity for research purposes. All operations strictly adhere to the European General Data Protection Regulation, emphasizing ethical, legal, and social considerations inherent in these activities.

Within the Biobank’s secure vault, over 98,000 specimens from healthy donors and patients are already archived, accompanied by associated data

While some records are accessible for general use with approval from the Academic Council of the Centre, the majority necessitate a formal application process. Researchers and the wider research community can gain access to these samples and related data following the submission and evaluation of a research proposal, briefly outlining objectives and experimental procedures. Every request for accessing data and/or samples must be part of a project that has obtained prior approval by the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee.

Learn how to Apply for Access

The Biobank stores high molecular weight genomic DNA, plasma and serum and, for certain cohorts, urine. All biological material is banked in -80oC freezers.

Data and samples are archived for the following conditions:

1. Volunteers of the general population, ages >18 years: Healthy or with self-reported morbidities, including diabetics, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, history of cancer or else
2. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
3. Familial hematurias / hematuric nephropathies of Mendelian inheritance:

Alport syndrome spectrum of glomerulopathies (collagen IV nephropathies)
(Typical Alport syndrome, thin basement membrane nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis)

Complement factor H related 5 (CFHR5) nephropathy (C3 glomerulopathy)

4. MUC1 kidney disease (formerly known as medullary cystic kidney disease type 1)

5. Cystinuria

6. Distal renal tubular acidosis

7. Nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

8. Other rare inherited kidney conditions

9. Hereditary nephropathies of unknown aetiology

10. Inherited heart conditions (cardiomyopathies, arrythmias)

11. Systemic lupus erythematosus

12. Various psychiatric conditions (schizophrenia and else)

13. Chronic eye conditions (keratoconus, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract)

14. Data and samples of convalescent COVID-19 patients or volunteers after COVID-19 vaccination

The Center’s Biobank has received approval from the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee and is dedicated to safeguarding personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU). The Biobank’s quality management team is diligently working towards fulfilling the criteria for ISO 20387 compliance.