What kinds of samples are stored in the biobank?
There are roughly a million human biological samples stored in Auria Biobank, a significant proportion of which are cancer samples.
Biobank samples are collected in the context of regular healthcare and medical examinations. They are stored in the biobank until they are needed for research.
The biobank assigns the samples for research in an encoded format, which means individual donors cannot be identified from their sample. Upon completion of the research, the professional returns the collected raw data or the sample-specific, analyzed results to the biobank. This means the information connected to the sample “accrues interest”, and the sample or the research information it has provided can be used in subsequent research.
Sample collections
1. Tissue samples
Auria Biobank’s sample storage contains over a million FFPE (formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) tissue samples that have been collected at Turku University Hospital (Tyks) since 1930.
The samples are stored in a dry environment at room temperature in compliance with the diagnostics requirements of Tyks’s Pathology Unit.
Auria Biobank produces high-quality tissue microarray (TMA) blocks
2. Clinical data availability in Auria Biobank
- Visits and wards (since 1976, more broadly 2004-)
- Location, specialty, mode of admittance, start and end dates
- Patient origin and transfer location
- ICD10 diagnoses
- Diagnoses (since 1976, more broadly 2004-)
- ICD format
- Pathology (since 1985)
- Anamnesis and statements by pathologists
- Snomed M and T classifications
- Pathology diagnoses
- Pathology tables
- Procedures (since 1994)
- Operations
- Small procedures
- Radiology procedures
- Radiology (since 1996)
- Anamnesis and statements by radiologist
- Scan details
- Radiation therapy (since 1997)
- Fractions
- Total dose
- Medical texts (patient narratives) (since 2004)
- Demographics (since 2004)
- Sex, date of birth, date of death
- Laboratory tests
- Results (numerical) and patient specific reference ranges (since 2005)
- Statements (since 2014)
- Spirometry (since 2006)
- Treatment tables (since 2006)
- E.g. height, weight, blood pressure
- Medications
- Medications prescribed during in-patient treatment periods (since 2010)
- Cancer medications (since 2004)
- Prescriptions (for out-patient use) (since 2010)
3. EDTA blood samples
The objective is to take a 10 ml EDTA blood sample from every patient who has given their consent to Auria Biobank. The sample is centrifuged, after which the plasma is divided into two units of 475 µl and the whole blood* into two units of 450 µl. The samples are stored at a temperature of -80°C.
*EDTA whole blood samples are centrifuged and plasma is then taken. After that, the blood tube is mixed and whole blood is taken. The plasma concentration of the remaining whole blood is smaller than in the original whole blood sample. The DNA yield of the remaining whole blood is higher than in the original blood sample.
4. DNA
Some of the whole blood samples that are collected due to the given biobank consent, are selected for DNA extraction. Hence the DNA is extracted from fresh blood and DNA concentration and purity of the samples are measured. DNA can also be extracted from deep-frozen blood samples. The samples are stored at a temperature of -80°C.
5. Serum
Since 2019 Auria Biobank has been collecting serum aliquots from diagnostic serum samples. The samples have been stored temporarily at a temperature of -20 °C and have gone through one freeze-thaw cycle.The samples are divided in to 400-450 µl aliquots and are stored at a temperature of -80°C.
6. PSA serum samples
The urological outpatient clinic’s sample collection of diagnostic serum samples taken from men who underwent PSA screening at Turku University Hospital in 1996 and 1997 has been transferred to Auria Biobank. The collection includes approximately 7,000 serum samples. The samples have been divided into units of 450 µl, and the biobank assigns them for medical research upon request. The samples are stored at a temperature of -80°C.
7. Cerebrospinal fluid
Since 2020 Auria Biobank has been collecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) aliquots from diagnostic CSF samples. Some of the samples are freshly frozen at -80°C, but some of them have been stored temporarily at -20 °C and have gone through one freeze-thaw cycle. The samples have been centrifuged and divided in to 300-600 µl aliquots. The samples are stored at a temperature of -80°C.
8. Endomet-Proendo cohorts
The Endomet-Proendo study (Turku University Hospital and University of Turku) is focused on developing new tools for identifying endometriosis and for evaluation of treatment efficacy and recurrence of the disease as well as follow-up of patients. Serum samples collected 2005-2015 >300 participants, and ongoing. Also other sample types such as urine available.
9. Ovarian cancer serum and plasma samples
Serum and plasma samples and related clinical data of patients with ovarian cancer, treated in Turku University Hospital since 2009, have been transferred to the biobank. Longitudinal series have been collected from the samples, e.g. before treatment - during treatment - after treatment. The samples are stored at a temperature of -80°C. The collection is ongoing.
10. Urine samples
Since 2023, Auria has been collecting aliquots from diagnostic urine samples. The samples have been temporarily stored at a temperature of +4 °C until they have been divided in to 900 µl aliquots. Urine aliquots are stored for long-term at a temperature of -80°C.
11. Organoids
Organoid cultures from patient-derived tumors of high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Stable and well-characterized with clinical data.
Scientific Steering Committee
Requests for samples and data are processed by Auria Biobank’s Scientific Steering Committee, which is in charge of the scientific evaluation of research projects involving the biobank.
The Scientific Steering Committee evaluates, in particular:
- the scientific level of the research (theoretical grounds and methods to be used, etc.), as well as the significance and ethics of the research
- the amount of material requested in relation to the number of samples and criteria for selecting the samples
- the resources of the research project
- how the project fits in with the biobank’s area of research
The Scientific Steering Committee may request that the application be supplemented with a statement by a regional ethics committee, as referred to in the Medical Research Act, or other additional statements. Any research carried out by the biobank itself is also evaluated according to the same criteria.
Meetings of the Scientific Steering Committee
| Spring 2026 | (Last day to submit material in parentheses) |
| 26th of January | (12th of January) |
| 23rd of February | (9th of February) |
| 30th of March | (16th of March) |
| 27th of April | (13th of April) |
| 8th of June | (25 th of May) |
Composition of the Scientific Steering Committee
| Chairperson | deputy |
| Pekka Taimen (UTU, Pathology) | Jutta Huvila (UTU, Pathology) |
| Members | deputy |
| Peter Boström (Tyks, Urology) | Heikki Irjala (Tyks, Otorhinolaryngology) |
| Antti Jekunen (Vaasa Central Hospital, Oncology) | |
| Juha Kukkonen (Satasairaala Hospital, Orthopedy) | Mikko Järvisalo (Satasairaala Hospital, Internal medicine and intensive care) |
| Veli-Matti Kähäri (UTU, Dermatology) | Panu Jaakkola (UTU, Oncology) |
| Laura Pirilä (Tyks, Rheumatology) | Markus Juonala (Tyks, Internal medicine) |
| Johanna Schleutker (UTU, Medical Genetics) | Jukka Hytönen (UTU, Bacteriology) |
| Tom Edelman (Tyks, Legal affairs) | Tom Southerington (Tyks, Legal affairs) |
| Jorma Toppari (Tyks, Pediatrics) | Harri Niinikoski (Tyks, Pediatrics) |
| Presenting Official/Secretary | |
| Merja Perälä and Lila Kallio (Auria Biobank) | |
Decision
Auria Biobank’s director makes a decision on whether to assign samples/data for biobank research on the basis of a statement by the Scientific Steering Committee.
Pursuant to the Biobank Act, Auria Biobank can restrict access to samples and data, especially if
- the intended use goes against the biobank’s defined research area, the consent that forms the grounds for processing the sample, or legal requirements
- the ethical or scientific level of the intended use cannot be verified
- the professional or scientific qualifications of the applicant cannot be verified
- the applicant’s prerequisites to comply with laws and the biobank’s guidelines and agreements cannot be verified
- the material that is being requested is limited, so its use is being prioritized for very significant research
- the material that is being requested is the original research subject of the professional who collected the material, and assigning it for another purpose would jeopardize this primary use
- the research plan that is being presented in the request overlaps with research that is already being conducted or which has already ended
- use of the material that is being requested in the manner presented would jeopardize the protection of privacy
- an ongoing intellectual property rights protection process would be jeopardized, or
- the professional has previously failed to fulfill his or her agreement with Auria Biobank
Preliminary meeting and Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
Following an affirmative decision on the assignment of samples and data, a preliminary meeting with the applicant is arranged to agree on the details of how the project will be implemented and to provide a preliminary cost assessment.
A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) concerning the assignment of samples and data is drawn up together with the professional’s background organization, and the costs are confirmed. The background organization may be a Finnish or international research institution or company.
After signing the MTA, the samples and data can be handed over.
When the research ends, the professional returns the results of the sample analysis and/or raw data to the biobank in accordance with what is specified in the MTA.
The results of the research must also be published, depending on the research, for example, in a scientific magazine.
General principles governing access to samples and data
The biobank assigns samples, research data gained from samples, and health data related to the donor for high-level health sciences research and product development. Written agreements concerning the assignment of samples and data are always concluded with the professional’s background organization. The background organization may be a Finnish or international research institution or company in the sector.
The assigned samples and data are encoded such that an individual cannot be identified from them. When it is necessary to link sample data to, e.g., register data, this is carried out either by the biobank or by FinData. The assignment of samples and data requires a supporting statement from the Scientific Steering Committee that monitors the biobank’s research activities, an affirmative decision from the biobank on the assignment, and an agreement on the terms and conditions of the assignment.
The biobank links the information from the research to its sample and data registers, from where it can be assigned for other research purposes in future. If the donor so wishes and if the research data is of a sufficient standard, the research data can also be made available to the sample donor or the healthcare unit treating the donor.
The biobank can also conduct research of its own, participate in research collaboration or employ external service providers for the processing and analysis of samples.
Sirkku Jyrkkiö,
Head of the Oncology Outpatient Clinic, Tyks
What do biobanks have to offer? A professional answers that question
The biobank offers histological samples and the valuable data they contain for use by professionals, aids in collecting research material and ensures high research standards. The head of the oncology outpatient clinic at Tyks, Sirkku Jyrkkiö, explains the role of the biobank in an ongoing cancer research project that aims to determine the clinical applications of DOTANOC-PET/TT scans in imaging different types of cancer.
Turku’s PET Centre has spent several years researching the application of DOTANOC-PET/TT in imaging cancers.
It has already been established that the method is well-suited to imaging neuroendocrine tumors, since such tumors contain an abundance of somatostatin receptors, to which the DOTANOC tracer binds. The current biobank research aims to determine how the tracer fares in imaging other tumors.
For example, it is sometimes difficult to obtain a tissue sample from a tumor inside the abdominal cavity in order to confirm the type of cancer. For that reason, it is important to determine the specificity of a DOTANOC-PET/TT scan.
More reliable cancer research thanks to the biobank
A study by the Tyks oncology clinic and the PET Centre focuses on imaging lymphoma patients to determine whether there are somatostatin receptors in lymphoma that can be detected with a DOTANOC-PET/TT scan.
Biobank research is part of this broad research program. The biobank’s sample archive enables receptor assays for several types of lymphoma, thus providing a more reliable picture of the expression of somatostatin receptors in different types of lymphoma.
The biobank’s electronic register data can additionally be used to determine the predictive value of receptors by correlating the expression of the receptors in samples with the patients’ survival data. At the same time, it can be determined whether isotope therapy aimed at somatostatin receptors can be applied to the treatment of lymphoma.
From a professional’s point of view, the biobank offers a clear channel of contact and aids in defining the research question and identifying and collecting research material. The biobank clarifies the authorization procedures related to the research. The biobank brings histological samples within the reach of all professionals, and at the same time ensures that the research being conducted with the aid of the samples is of a high standard and promotes the basic research into and treatment of cancer.