CANBERRA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) — An Australian national biobank platform for streamlining access to human biospecimens and data for biomedical research could deliver 39 million Australian dollars (about 25.62 million U.S. dollars) worth of annual benefits, a new report shows.
These benefits would stem from improved coordination across Australian biobanks and cohort studies, enhancing research efficiency and outcomes, according to the report released Monday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency.
With more than 200 biobanks and over 4 million biospecimens held nationwide, the report highlights the infrastructure’s role in accelerating lifesaving scientific discoveries.
These collections provide access to human biological materials and associated data, helping researchers maximise the value of existing resources, ensure biological models reflect the diversity of Australia’s population, and inform evidence-based public health decisions, it said.
Benefits include reducing search times for specimens, boosting utilization of biobanks, accelerating research progress, improving risk management, and opening doors to international collaboration and biopharmaceutical investment, according to the report. ■