The Federal Government’s Patient Commissioner, Stefan Schwartze, MP, has declared his support for the position paper published by the German Biobank Node (GBN) and various patient organisations. This is another important political endorsement for the paper, which contains key recommendations for strengthening academic biobanks and patient participation in biomedical research.
Key recommendations for the next legislative period
In view of the upcoming elections to the German Bundestag, the position paper of the GBN and the participating patient organisations contains key recommendations for the upcoming legislative period. It emphasises that academic biobanks are a mainstay of biomedical research and that their funding must be secured in the long term. It also calls for biobanks to be involved in research projects at an earlier stage and for patients to be involved more consistently. Patient representatives should participate in the planning and implementation of research projects.
Strengthening in the political arena
The position paper received broad support from scientific organisations and other patient representatives when it was published in 2024. With the support of the Federal Government’s Patient Commissioner, the issue has now been further strengthened in the political arena. Especially in the run-up to the elections, this is an important signal to raise the necessary awareness for the future of academic biobanks and the role of patients in research.
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