- The First Biobanks and Citizen Participation Conference brought together around one hundred attendees, including members of the public, patient associations, students, and professionals
- The Valencian Biobank Network is an initiative of the Regional Ministry of Health whose mission is to coordinate and foster cooperation among the biobanks of the Valencian Community
Alicante (26.11.25). The Valencian Biobank Network (RVB) held its first Biobanks and Citizen Participation Conference this Tuesday, a scientific outreach event aimed at bringing biomedical research closer to the public and explaining how donations of biological samples contribute to scientific progress.
This event, held in the auditorium of Valencia General Hospital, brought together around one hundred attendees—including members of the public, patient associations, vocational training students in Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory studies, and professionals—with the aim of highlighting the value of biobanks and the importance of public participation in driving scientific research.
With the aim of bringing research closer to the public and addressing questions, the event combined short presentations with a participatory activity.
The opening session featured the participation of Francisco Sanz, Director of Research and Teaching at Valencia General Hospital; David Garrido, Scientific Director of the Research Foundation of the Doctor Balmis University General Hospital of Valencia (FIHGUV); Jacobo Martínez, Coordinator of the Valencian Biobank Network (RVB); and Mari Nieves Prieto, Head of the Biobank at Valencia General Hospital.
Citizen Participation and Research
The first part of the event consisted of a roundtable discussion explaining what a biobank is, how samples are donated, and the procedures that ensure the quality of the material and the protection of patients’ rights. In addition to the link between biobanks and public participation, the rights of donors were also addressed, outlining what people should know before donating.
Ana Martínez, coordinator of the ISABIAL Biobank, gave an engaging and accessible explanation of what a biobank is and why it plays an essential role in biomedical research.
In the second part of the event, a participatory activity was held in which attendees were able to identify questions and benefits, culminating in a discussion with the biobank representatives, as well as the identification of proposals for improvement.
The Valencian Biobank Network, established as a research support platform, is an initiative of the Regional Ministry of Health whose mission is to coordinate and promote cooperation among the biobanks of the Valencian Community.
This first outreach event was organized by the Fisabio Foundation, the Research Foundation of the Doctor Balmis University General Hospital of Valencia (FIHGUV), the Valencia General Hospital, the Provincial Hospital Foundation of Castellón, the INCLIVA Health Research Institute, and the Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), with the collaboration of the Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBER) and the Valencian Institute of Oncology Foundation (IVO).