How is your biobank handling disaster recovery efforts?

Area of Science:

• Biopreservation
• Biobanking
• Disaster Risk Management

Background:

• Biobanks are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters (e.g., superstorms, earthquakes) and man-made threats (e.g., freezer malfunctions, theft).
• Ensuring the continuity of biobanking operations is critical for research and public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather and present expert perspectives on biobank disaster recovery strategies.
• To inform the biobanking community on effective disaster preparedness and response.

Main Methods:

• A community of experts in biopreservation and biobanking was surveyed.
• Responses regarding disaster recovery efforts were collected and compiled.

Main Results:

• Expert responses highlight diverse approaches to biobank disaster recovery.
• The article compiles practical insights into managing and recovering from biobanking-specific disasters.

Conclusions:

• Proactive disaster planning and robust recovery strategies are essential for biobank resilience.
• Sharing expert knowledge is crucial for advancing biobank security and sample preservation.