What is a biobank?

A biobank is a collection of biological material. The NOPHO Leukemia Biobank (NLBB) contains cells from the blood and bone marrow of children and young people with blood cancer (leukaemia). 

The samples have been collected since the early nineties for research purposes. The biobank contains samples from the Nordic countries. Research has meant that we can now cure most children who contract leukaemia. It’s important to improve treatments so that even more people get better and we don’t give unnecessary treatment when it’s not needed.

A biobank can contain one or more sample collections of biological material that is collected, stored, registered and analysed with the intention of preserving it for various purposes, for example:

• For monitoring your future care and treatment.
• For the diagnosis, care and treatment of future generations.
• For medical research that improves healthcare. All research must first undergo ethical review.