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MIABIS
Minimum Information About BIobank data Sharing
Introducing MIABIS: Standardising Biobank Data Sharing
Welcome to MIABIS, the Minimum Information About Biobank data Sharing initiative! MIABIS is dedicated to standardising data elements used to describe biobanks, research on samples, and associated data. Our goal is to enhance interoperability among biobanks sharing their valuable data and samples.
MIABIS Core 2.0, established by Merino-Martinez et al. in 2016, defined general attributes at an aggregated/metadata level for describing biobanks, sample collections, and (research) studies. Building upon this foundation, new MIABIS components have been approved by BBMRI-ERIC to describe samples and sample donors at the individual level (Eklund et al., 2020).
Our terminology work follows the innovative MIABIS governance model introduced by BBMRI-ERIC in 2016. This model organises MIABIS definition work into focused components, each with a predefined scope based on specific use cases. The finalisation of MIABIS components and their entities is subject to approval by the BBMRI-ERIC Management Committee.
We foster collaboration through working groups composed of volunteer participants from BBMRI-ERIC National Nodes and domain experts. MIABIS is a dynamic initiative, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the biobanking community.
For more detailed information and attribute tables, visit the MIABIS GitHub page. We invite you to join our efforts by emailing miabis@lists.bbmri-eric.eu. If you encounter any issues or have suggestions, submit them on the MIABIS GitHub page or write to us directly. – Together, let’s shape the future of biobank data sharing!
The MIABIS Core
MIABIS Core is the essential foundation for initiating collaboration with biobanks and facilitating the exchange of biological samples and data. This framework sets out to harmonise attributes within biobanking and biomedical research, promoting the reuse of biological resources. Developed in accordance with epidemiological literature and terminology, MIABIS Core 3.0 is the latest version, featuring 32 attributes organised in a modular structure for ease of adherence and extensibility.
MIABIS Core focuses on four main entities: “Biobank” “Collection” “Research Resource” and “Network“. These entities serve as key components, providing a standardised and comprehensive framework for describing essential elements within the biobanking ecosystem. By adhering to MIABIS Core, collaborators can ensure a consistent and efficient exchange of information, fostering seamless collaboration in the pursuit of advancing biomedical research.
The MIABIS Individual-level Components
In complement to the MIABIS Core terminology, the MIABIS Individual-level components address the demand for more granular information on samples and sample donors. While the MIABIS Core terminology offers aggregated details on biobanks, sample collections, and studies, the Individual-level components extend this framework to include specific entities for detailed information on samples, donors, and events.
This enhancement allows for a more nuanced and sophisticated approach to queries, providing researchers and collaborators with the ability to delve into individual-level data. The components, including Sample, Sample Donor, and Event v1.0, have been meticulously developed (Eklund et al., 2020), offering a richer and more detailed perspective on biological samples and their donors within the MIABIS framework.
Additional components under active development – feel free to join our working groups miabis@lists.bbmri-eric.eu
- Aggregate-level Component: Data describing dataset type (to be including data describing image collections (Scapicchio et al., 2021)
- Aggregate-level Component: Data describing biobank capabilities/ services
- Aggregate-level Component: Data describing SOPs (in preparation)
