National Center Biobank Network

There are six national centers (6NCs) for advanced and specialized medicine in Japan that conduct basic and clinical research on major diseases that have a substantial impact on national health. Disease-specific bioresources and information collected by each NC are stored in a separate biobank. The National Center Biobank Network (NCBN) was established in 2011 and coordinates the biobanks and researchers of the 6NCs via an open-access database (Catalogue Database: http://www2.ncbiobank.org/Index_en ) as an efficient means of providing registered biological resources and data for use in research communities. The NCBN resources are characterized by their high-quality and rich medical information and are available for life science research and for the development of novel testing methodologies (biomarkers), new treatments, and drugs for future health care in the scope of personalized medicine through a deeper understanding of disease pathogenesis. Here, we explain the activities of the NCBN and the characteristics of the NCBN Catalogue Database. Biobanks: Japanese network promotes research collaboration Japan’s National Center Biobank Network (NCBN) has standardized the collection and storage of high-quality disease-related data and samples, offering collaboration opportunities in basic and applied research. Yosuke Omae and colleagues of the NCBN’s Central Biobank write in a review that these resources could be used in the search for new diagnostic and treatment targets. The NCBN was established in 2011 to coordinate the biobanks of six national centers specializing in cancer and pediatric, geriatric, cardiovascular, psychiatric, neurological, muscular, chronic, and infectious diseases. Its open-access catalogue ( http://www2.ncbiobank.org/Index_en ) includes filters for specific diseases, basic patient data such as age and sex, tissue type (e.g., plasma, DNA, solid tissue), and medical, family, and lifestyle history. As of 31 March 2022, the NCBN had more than 400,000 registered bioresources and 120,081 registered patients with a wide variety of diseases.