UNESCO, in partnership with the European Research Infrastructure for biobanking and biomolecular resources (BBMRI-ERIC) and the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO/IARC), provides workshop series with an in-depth introduction to the core dimensions of contemporary biobanking.

The series offers a comprehensive overview of sustainable and inclusive biobanking practices, federated IT infrastructures and AI-enabled tools, quality management systems, trustworthy AI in Biobanking, and patient and public involvement (PPI), while also offering a practical exploration of the role of biobanking in cancer research.

Format: Online workshops with final assessment at the end of each session

Duration of each session: 1 hour

Number of participants: 20-30 participants

Training timeline: 6 days, 1 session per week. From May until the end of June 2026. Each session will take place from 14:00 CET (15:00 Kyiv time).

Eligibility: early to mid-career researchers in the biomedical and medical sciences whose work involves, or will involve, the use of human biological samples and associated data for research purposes. It is particularly relevant for researchers who are currently working with, or planning to engage with, biobanks and biobanking infrastructures. Proficiency in English is required.

Target: Ukraine; Countries across Africa; Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Deadline for applications: 18 May 2026

Details and application form are available via link