The Central BioBank Maastricht UMC+ (hereinafter called BioBank) is part of the Central Research Facilities (CRF) of the Maastricht University and the MUMC+. It supports biomedical research by providing infrastructure and expertise for the processing, storage, distribution, and registration of human biological materials.
The BioBank has extensive expertise in national and international standards for the pre-analytical processing and long-term storage of biomaterials and operates dedicated laboratory facilities for this purpose. Pre-analytical procedures are performed according to protocols developed in close consultation with the researcher. Wherever possible, protocols are standardized to ensure high sample quality, comparability between studies, and to facilitate national and international collaboration. For specific pre-analytical procedures, the BioBank works in close collaboration with other specialized departments.
Biological materials are stored in temperature-controlled freezers (−30 °C / −80 °C) or in liquid nitrogen storage systems (−196 °C), located in the MUMC+. Storage facilities are equipped with continuous 24/7 monitoring systems and on-call support to ensure the integrity and long-term quality of stored biomaterials in the event of equipment malfunction.
The management of biomaterials and associated data is fully supported by the web-based “Biobank Information System” (BIS), which provides secure and controlled access for authorized internal researchers.
Quality management is a core component of the infrastructure. The BioBank has been ISO 9001 certified since 2009 and operates within a structured quality management system aimed at continuous process optimization and improvement, ensuring reliable, transparent, and high-quality services for the research community.
In addition to providing practical support, the BioBank is actively involved within the MUMC+ to promote knowledge exchange and to facilitate collaboration between departments, researchers, and research facilities.
Furthermore, the BioBank can play a facilitating role in the expansion of studies to external centers, supporting the coordination and implementation of multi-center collaborations.