During the COVID-19 pandemic, the European biobanking infrastructure is in a unique position to preserve valuable biological material complemented with detailed data for future research purposes. Biobanks can be either integrated into healthcare, where preservation of the biological material is a fork in clinical routine diagnostics and medical treatment processes or they can also host prospective cohorts or material related to clinical trials. The paper discussed objectives of BBMRI-ERIC, the European research infrastructure established to facilitate access to quality-defined biological materials and data for research purposes, with respect to the COVID-19 crisis: (a) to collect information on available European as well as non-European COVID-19-relevant biobanking resources in BBMRI-ERIC Directory and to facilitate access to these via BBMRI-ERIC Negotiator platform; (b) to help harmonizing guidelines on how data and biological material is to be collected to maximize utility for future research, including large-scale data processing in artificial intelligence, by participating in activities such as COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative; (c) to minimize risks for all involved parties dealing with (potentially) infectious material by developing recommendations and guidelines; (d) to provide a European-wide platform of exchange in relation to ethical, legal, and societal issues (ELSI) specific to the collection of biological material and data during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BBMRI ERIC Neue Stiftingtalstraße 2 B 6 8010 Graz Austria

Department of Genetics CB50 University Medical Center Groningen and BBMRI NL Hanzeplein 1 9713 GZ Groningen Netherlands

Institute of Computer Science Masaryk University Botanická 68a 60200 Brno Czech Republic

Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Žlutý kopec 543 7 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Medical University Graz and BBMRI at Auenbruggerpl 2 8036 Graz Austria

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