Event agenda
Tuesday, 19 May 2026
09:30 - 11:30
Pre-congress visit I: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Visit IOCB Prague – the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
Pre-congress visit II: The Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion
Visit the Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion
Pre-congress visit III: BIOCEV
Visit to BIOCEV, a centre of excellence in basic research, actively linked to teaching and student education, with a strong emphasis on collaboration with biotechnology companies
13:00 - 15:00
Workshop IV: Microbiome Biobanking in a One Health Framework: Bridging Silos Across Domains
How microbiome biobanks and data repositories across human, animal and environmental domains can collaborate to support a One Health approach to microbiome research
13:00 - 17:30
Workshop I: Engaging young participants: PPIE challenges and solutions in Paediatric Biobanking
How biobanks engage children and parents in decisions about biosamples and data collections, focusing on the complex ethical and practical challenges, unique to working with young participants
Workshop II: Mastering the BBMRI-ERIC Ecosystem: From Infrastructure to Impact
Practical “methods” for turning digital tools into meaningful assets for your biobank
Workshop III: Data Quality in line with BBMRI-ERIC QM Service
Practical knowledge on using BBMRI.QM's Data Management Maturity Self-Assessment Survey as a self-assessment tool, translating results into concrete organisational improvement actions and contributing immediate feedback
15:00 - 15:30
Coffee break
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
09:00 - 10:45
10:45 - 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 - 12:30
Keynote one
The first keynote of #EBW26 will be delivered by Prof. Joacim Rocklöv, Head of Heidelberg Planetary Health Hub with the topic ‘How is climate change affecting infectious disease dynamics across Europe’?
12:30 - 12:45
Group picture
12:45 - 13:30
Corporate workshop
12:45 - 14:00
Lunch break
13:00 - 14:00
Vendor tour
14:00 - 15:30
3A: Preserving biodiversity: Challenges and opportunities in non-human biobanking
- Biobanking without borders: Connecting biodiversity, medicine and innovation
The unique role of non-human biobanks in advancing integrated health for humans, animals and ecosystems
3B: The EHDS unveiled: Latest developments and national perspectives
- Ethics, regulation and digital innovation: Navigating the future of biobanking
The evolving landscape of EU regulations shaping the future of biobanking, focusing on their ethical, legal and societal implications
3C: Biobank advanced technologies: Challenges, opportunities and solutions
- Fit-for-purpose biobanking: Enhancing sample quality from collection to analysis
The next generation of biobanking technologies, from automation and digital tracking to integrated data systems and innovative technologies, along with the complex realities of implementing them
3D: Returning biobank data to participants: Closing the loop
- Advancing biobanking: Skills, partnerships and sustainable solutions for the future
A moment of discussion between stakeholders in the process of returning to people data coming from genetic/genomic studies
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 - 17:00
Poster session one
17:00 - 17:30
Networking
- Chamber Hall
- Exhibitors area
Meeting duration:10 minutes time slots
Don't leave your networking opportunities to chance. Set up 1:1 meetings with the people and organisations you want to connect with most.
17:30 - 19:00
5A: Building excellence: Developing skills for future biobanking
- Biobanking without borders: Connecting biodiversity, medicine and innovation
Tailored education and training opportunities for the biobank community, covering all roles – from project managers to technical staff handling samples and data
5B: AI-enhanced biobank research: Integrating, analysing and advancing biomedical discovery
- Ethics, regulation and digital innovation: Navigating the future of biobanking
Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for integrating and analysing complex datasets
5C: Tools and processes for quality implementation and use cases
- Fit-for-purpose biobanking: Enhancing sample quality from collection to analysis
Practical tools, methodologies and processes that strengthen quality management systems aligned with international standards such as ISO 20387
5D: Industry & academic co-creation towards personalised medicine in light of global challenges
This session explores how industry and academia can collaborate to advance personalised medicine in response to pressing global challenges.
19:00 - 21:00
Welcome reception
Official opening of the congress
Thursday, 21 May 2026
08:00 - 09:00
ESBB General Assembly
09:00 - 10:30
6A: Biobanks as local hubs: Interfaces and facilitators
- Biobanking without borders: Connecting biodiversity, medicine and innovation
The evolving role of biobanks as dynamic local hubs in biomedical research
6B: Secure, fair and smart: Best practices for biobank data integration
- Ethics, regulation and digital innovation: Navigating the future of biobanking
Strategies to protect donor privacy while enabling cross-border data exchange through robust governance, clear agreements and legal compliance
6C: Ensuring excellence: Elevating data quality in biobanking
- Fit-for-purpose biobanking: Enhancing sample quality from collection to analysis
Advanced methods for assessing and improving the quality of biobank data
6D: Patient-centric biobanking: Strategies for engagement and participation
- Advancing biobanking: Skills, partnerships and sustainable solutions for the future
A spotlight on patients as experts-by-experience driving innovative research and establishing biobanks that address emerging health needs
10:30 - 11:15
Coffee break
11:15 - 12:15
Keynote two
12:15 - 13:30
Corporate workshop
12:15 - 13:45
Lunch and exhibition
12:45 - 13:45
Vendor tour
13:45 - 15:15
8A: Unlocking health insights from donated human tissues
- Biobanking without borders: Connecting biodiversity, medicine and innovation
The ethical, technical and logistical challenges of collecting and managing human tissue donations, both post-mortem and from living donors
8B: Balancing ethics and innovation: ELSI in biobanking
- Ethics, regulation and digital innovation: Navigating the future of biobanking
Complex ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) that shape biobanking practices and influence public trust
8C: Mastering pre-analytics: Key to reliable biobanking and biomedical research
- Fit-for-purpose biobanking: Enhancing sample quality from collection to analysis
The pre-analytical phase of biobanking, where collection, handling and storage determine downstream success
8D: Synergising resources: Public–private collaboration in biobanking infrastructure and research
- Advancing biobanking: Skills, partnerships and sustainable solutions for the future
How public–private collaborations in biobanking drive innovation by combining strategic vision with practical implementation
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee break
15:45 - 16:45
Poster session two
16:45 - 17:45
9A: Disease domain-specific biobanks – Rare disease insights
- Disease domain-specific Biobanks
Domain-specific biobanks for rare diseases, emphasising the importance of cross-border collaboration and networks like the EuroBioBank (EBB)
9B: Disease domain-specific biobanks – Oncology insights
- Disease domain-specific Biobanks
Oncology biobanks and cross-disciplinary collaboration across oncology, pathology, radiology and molecular medicine
9C: Disease domain-specific biobanks – Neuroscience insights
- Disease domain-specific Biobanks
Biobanks advancing research on neurological and psychiatric disorders
19:00 - 23:00
Networking dinner
An elegant evening of connection, fine dining and entertainment in one of Prague’s most historic venues.
Friday, 22 May 2026
09:00 - 10:30
10A – Ethics Café
Stakeholders come together in an informal setting to voice their thoughts on the role that ethics frameworks play in the context of biomedical innovation
10:30 - 12:00
Brunch, exhibition and posters
12:00 - 13:30
11A: Inside the biobank – Organisational structures, strategies and success stories
- Biobanking without borders: Connecting biodiversity, medicine and innovation
The inner workings of biobanks and how organisational models and strategic planning shape their success
11B: Pediatric biobanking
- Ethics, regulation and digital innovation: Navigating the future of biobanking
The unique challenges of pediatric biobanking, including ethical considerations, consent complexities and age-specific biological factors
11C: Samples ready for multi-omics research
- Fit-for-purpose biobanking: Enhancing sample quality from collection to analysis
How biobanks are adapting collection, processing and storage protocols to meet the demands of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics research
11D: Eco-friendly green biobanking: Innovations and solutions
- Advancing biobanking: Skills, partnerships and sustainable solutions for the future
Eco-friendly biobanking innovations and circular economy approaches addressing sustainability beyond financial viability
13:30 - 14:00