THL Biobank Application Portal

THL Biobank uses an electronic Application Portal (based on REMS2 software by CSC) for handling access requests for biological samples and sample related data. Before submitting an application, you should get familiar with THL Biobank’s Access Policy and Service Prices.

Principles of access
Service Prices

Instructions for using THL Biobank Application Portal

1. Access THL Biobank Application Portal

LOG IN TO APPLICATION PORTAL REMS

2. Login

Select your preferred login method. Select your institute from the drop-down list. If your institute is not found in the Haka or Virtu, select the Eduuni service to obtain an account. Please ensure that you use your personal Institute email address when using the Application Portal, not i.e. @gmail. Please note, that you must choose only one login method and once you have decided your login pathway and signed in for the first time, always use the same login method in the future.
Eduuni service

3. Catalogue

Select the desired sample collections by ‘Adding them to cart’ and then ‘Apply’. Choosing ‘Apply’ opens the Application form.

If you have any unfinished applications in the system, you can find them in the top of the Catalogue page. You can continue editing or close the application by clicking ‘View’.

4. Application form

1. State – view the name, title and state of the application as well as the time of the latest event concerning the application. This information cannot be edited.
2. Applicants – add information on study group members
3. Resources – verify that the sample collections listed are those you request, edit if necessary
4. Terms of use – read and accept the terms of use to access the applied material
   • General Terms of Access to THL Biobank Resources
   • THL Biobank Service Prices – familiarize yourself with the service prices
5. Application – fill the application form carefully and attach the relevant supporting documents. Some of the questions and attachments are mandatory and are marked with an asterisk (note that a detailed research plan must be attached). You can submit your application in English or in Finnish.
6. In the ’Actions’ menu, select the ’Send application’ to submit the application.

5. Applications

Listing of all your applications. Applications needing your attention, e.g. applications returned for modifications by the biobank, are highlighted in bold text.

Content needed for the application form

PLEASE NOTE: This is a general description on the content of the application form, and the details may be subject to changes.

• Applicant information
  • Study PI (if you are applying for THL Biobank’s resources for the first time, you are warmly encouraged to attach your CV to the application)
  • Contact person
  • Research group members (roles, responsibilities and contact information for all research group members)
• Study information
  • Timeline of the study
  • Place(s) of the research
• Research plan (comprehensive research plan to be included as an attachment)
• Public description of the project in Finnish and in English
• Detailed description of the requested samples and/or data
  • Identify and select suitable cohorts and samples/data from the collections stored in THL Biobank. If relevant, provide any additional selection criteria of study participants.
  • Phenotype data. For browsing data categories and variables available, see the sample collection descriptions in THL Biobank website and/or KITE availability database. Please use attachments to provide detailed variable lists.
  • Genomic or other omics data
  • Planned use of national register data
  • Biological samples
• Data management plan
  • Data controller(s) and data processor(s) in the project
  • Contents of the research register and, if relevant, linkages to other registers
  • Data safety measures and sample/data handling at the end of the project
• Returning of study results to THL Biobank
• Ethical aspects of the planned study
• Planned publications
• Funding sources and invoice address
• Other relevant information or documentation

Useful links for identifying and selecting samples and/or data to be requested:
THL Biobank sample collections

Additional information

For more detailed instructions, see THL Biobank Application Portal manual or contact
admin.biobank ( at ) thl.fi.
THL Biobank Application Portal - Manual for Applicants (pdf 1,4 Mb)
Quick guide for Applicants (pdf 167 kb)

Please note that THL Biobank’s new Application Portal opened in June 2020. The software is still quite new and may require further development. We would greatly appreciate your feedback and ask you to report any problems or disruptions to THL Biobank. In addition, if you need any information regarding the applications handled in the previous REMS application system, please contact admin.biobank ( at ) thl.fi.