Project Application Process

1. Registration (external reseacher only): Med Uni Graz external researchers seeking access to material/data for the 1^st time have to fill the Registration Form.
2. Project Application: The researcher sends the Project Application to biobank-pm(at)medunigraz.at. After a Project Application is filed, Biobank Graz checks whether the required samples and data are available and costs are estimated.
3. Project application development: The project is developed in an interactive process that includes the definition of the study protocol and the study cohort. 
4. Biobank representative assesses the submitted project proposals. 
5. Execution: Prior to sample/data release to the approved researcher the Material Transfer Agreement needs to be execute and a positive ethics vote is needed. (Link: local ethics committee)

The Biobank representative applies to the following decision criteria:

• Project is consistent with the objectives of Biobank Graz (research project, no sample and data trade), clearly recognizable benefit for the general public
• Promotion of the research interests of Medical University of Graz, resultant research co-operations
• Scientific quality of the project (relevance of research, feasibility)
• Relative value of the samples (number of equivalent samples at Biobank Graz; incidence /prevalence of the illness; estimated time to recollect spent samples)

The following standards apply for the project implementation:

• Samples are preferably not transferred outside Medical University of Graz. Instead, on-site analysis using the core facilities of the Center for Medical Research is favoured. Sample transfer must be justified at project submission.
• The recipient must provide proof that the research project has gained the approval of the local ethics committee. 
• The response time of Biobank Graz depends on the complexity of the submitted project. Project Applications are generally answered within 3 working days. 

An outline of the Biobank Graz' samples can be found at the BBMRI-ERIC Directory

For enquiries please contact biobank-pm(at)medunigraz.at