The IdiPAZ Biobank is introduced as a new service to support the research of the Institute for Biomedical Research of the La Paz University Hospital, the result of the integration of different existing nodes with a long and fruitful history in research within HULP.

Pursuant to Research Law 14/2007, where the creation and organisation of human sample biobanks for biomedical research is described as a novel concept, the IdiPAZ Biobank is created to facilitate their management, processing and storage, awaiting the publication of a Royal Decree to regulate this activity.

The IdiPAZ Biobank will bring benefits at various levels, starting with donors, patients, society in general and the individual clinicians and researchers involved. It also intends to facilitate communication and cooperation of the various groups with common interests both domestically and internationally.

This will result in a higher quality of research and increased scientific output, not to mention the strict compliance with the Data Protection Act and the Rights to Privacy and Confidentiality of all patients.

This new service is created with the cooperation of the La Paz University Hospital, the Foundation for Biomedical Research of La Paz University Hospital (FIBHULP) and the Health Institute Carlos III, integrated into the Hospital Biobank Network (RetBioH).

The 3 priority areas for action of the IdiPAZ Biobank are integration, harmonisation and public service. These areas concentrate on the following objectives:

The IdiPAZ Biobank provides researchers with a flexible channel for access to samples, its products and data associated with quality assurance and ethical and legal suitability.

It controls the collection and, if necessary, withdrawal of informed consent, giving the patient all the required information. Special attention is given to ensure protection of privacy and confidentiality of personal data contained in the IdiPAZ Biobank as well as clinical data and research findings.

Thanks to this, it encourages development of the continued dynamics of analysis and evaluation of the needs of the users of Biobank.

In addition, the activities of the IdiPAZ Biobank in society and especially in the field of patient associations and those affected will be made known and assessed.

Currently, the structure of the IdiPAZ Biobank consists of a central node and 16 peripheral nodes (Tumour bank, HIV Unit, Complement, Hypersensitivity, Molecular Hepatology, Adult Nephrology, Bone and Biomaterials Pathophysiology, Oncological Disease, Immuno-Rheumatology, Pulmonology, Hepatology, Allergology, Microbiology, Cell Engineering, Genetics and Immunology) for different HULP groups. All together, they have approximately more than 1,660,000 samples that could be used in research.

Those responsible for or in charge of each node of the IdiPAZ Biobank are: