Application process

Researchers’ pathway to THL Biobank resources

1.  Find samples and data suitable to your study

• Research collections in THL Biobank

2.  Ask consultation from THL Biobank or FINBB – submit availability query or feasibility study

• Preliminary inquiries:
  • Webropol form for submitting an availability query to THL Biobank only
  • Fingenious® service for submitting an availability query to all public biobanks in Finland (including THL Biobank)
• Consultation also available in THL Biobank via e-mail: admin.biobank (at) thl.fi

3.  Apply for samples and/or data using electronic THL Biobank Application Portal or Fingenious® service

• THL Biobank Application Portal for submitting an application to THL Biobank only
• Fingenious® service for submitting a joint application to all public biobanks in Finland (including THL Biobank)
• Application must include: research plan, research group members, definition of requested material, ethical aspects, funding info, publication plan, data management plan etc.

4.  Sign a material transfer agreement (MTA)

• General Terms of Access, Data security instructions and Data processing instructions as attachments
• EC standard clauses are executed when transferring biobank material outside of EU/ETA
• Authorized signatures required from each participating institute/organization  

5.  If relevant for the study - Fill out application(s) for national register data

• Project specific register permissions are required for linking data from national health registers to the biobank data
• Read more about access to national register data

6.  Receive the requested biobank material

• Only pseudonymized material is provided for research
• Biological samples are shipped using professional courier company
• Data is transferred using secure data transfer methods
• Any additions or changes to the requested material are to be agreed with THL Biobank
  Read more on how to manage your project

7.  Pay Service costs

• THL Biobank service prices

8.  Acknowledge the biobank and sample donors in publications

• A suitable note of acknowledgement should be included in the publication/s, such as: ”The samples/data used for the research were obtained from THL Biobank (study number: add your study number here). We thank all study participants for their generous participation in biobank research.”

9.  Return study results to THL Biobank after the project

• New laboratory measurements or new data derivatives are returned to biobank with sufficient documentation
• This data is made available to other researchers via standard application process