Brazil Ministry of Health establishes Brazilian Biobank Network

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has established the Brazilian Biobank Network (RBBMS) to coordinate public and private biobanks across the country. This initiative aims to enhance national capacity for strategic research benefiting the Unified Health System (SUS).

These centers manage human biological materials, such as blood and tissues, alongside scientific data. By fostering cooperation and the sharing of best practices, the network seeks to stimulate multicentric research and generate scientific evidence to improve public health diagnostics and treatments.

Participation in the network is voluntary and open to 108 biobanks approved by the National System of Ethics in Research involving Human Beings (Sinep). The program will be coordinated by the Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation in Health (SCTIE/MS), which will provide technical support while preserving the administrative autonomy of participating institutions.