Bio-specimen based research has been a critical method in helping the scientists and researchers to unlock the mysteries of cancer and other diseases by connecting the huge amount of emerging molecular data and the wealth of medical data that exists in patient histories and clinical outcomes. It enables researchers to explore and identify the molecular “signatures” that are characteristic of certain disease sub-types, and provides a pathway to use those signatures as diagnostic tools and as targets for new drug discovery. They also provide the means for initial testing of new drugs.

Well stored and managed biological samples and the data information attached to the samples are critical resources and biobanks provides the necessary access and resources for researchers and therefore is playing an important role in advancing bio-specimen based research.

IQPC's Biobanking 2009 conference will gather leading practitioners and provide timely case studies to probe into the new advancements and challenges facing us, including initiatives from the government and global practices from the industry. We will also explore the potential collaborations among industry-academia-researchers that will shape the industry into a more harmonized community.