Your voluntary participation in this national health program plays a crucial role in enhancing medical care for both current and future generations, aiming to improve the quality of life for the next generations in Cyprus. Your altruistic choice to participate significantly benefits Cypriot society.
To achieve these objectives, the active involvement of citizens from all communities on the island is vital. By consenting to provide blood and data, you become a part of the biobank initiative, contributing to the development of numerous research studies focused on finding answers for various genetic diseases.
Recent research has highlighted that obtaining reliable results often demands the analysis of high-quality data and samples. This is particularly crucial for frequent complex disorders such as cancer, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular conditions, Alzheimer’s, other dementias, autism, and many others.
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What is a Biobank?
A biobank is an organized infrastructure that collects and archives demographic and personal information, medical data, and biological material from volunteer participants. The primary goal of biobanks is to support studies aimed at enhancing health through improved disease diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention. These studies also contribute to the discovery of new knowledge and better medicines.
Who can Participate in the Biobank Programs?
Biobank.cy invites healthy volunteers and patients with any disease, including Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, Latins, and other residents of Cyprus aged 18 and above, to enroll in its biobank.
What Are the Risks of Participation?
Participation in the program involves minimal risk, with the sample collection potentially causing slight discomfort.
How Are Samples and Data Used?
Samples are securely stored and encrypted to maintain privacy, accessible only to approved researchers. Researchers can use biological material and data after obtaining approval from the National Bioethics Committee, exclusively for studies benefiting humanity’s well-being and advancing science and health.
Learn more about Participants’ Rights
Protection of Personal Data and Participant Rights
Biobank is approved by the National Bioethics Committee of Cyprus (NEBC) and the University of Cyprus, adhering to the General Regulation on Protection of Personal Data (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR). Participants’ biological samples and personal data are collected with informed consent and stored securely, following all necessary regulations and employing modern security measures.
To book your appointment, visit biobank.cy/book-your-appointment.
Participating in Biobank is voluntary and does not offer any financial benefits.
Free blood and urine analyses, as well as vital signs and body composition analyses, are provided to all participants.
