Between the 4th and 8th July, the GHTM-IHMT BIOTROP biobank Technical Coordinator Ana Tavares visited the Biological Collections of Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the ERASMUS + Staff Mobility program.
Fiocruz Biological Collections resulted from a number of initiatives associated with the promotion of quality and improvement of the conditions for the excellence of Fiocruz’s research and services. Aimed to preserve the genetic heritage of species of interest to health and biotechnology, and to understanding of patterns of biodiversity changes and variations that have occurred in pathogens and etiological agents over time, currently Fiocruz supports the maintenance and safeguard of 33 collections, divided into 5 categories.
In order to strengthen relations with the established Fiocruz Biological Collections and the recently created Covid19-Biobank (BC19-Fiocruz), the researcher met with the representatives of the Vice Presidency of Research and Biological Collections (VPPCB), and visited different Collections and the BC19-Fiocruz to share experience and best practices in the management of biological resources centres.
According to Ana Tavares, the mission was fruitful, allowing her to “establish contact with 35 researchers, acquire new tools and also share good practices and experiences, in particular at the level of networking and biobanking”.
As a result of this mission, the representatives of the Vice PPCV team will be invited to present the management and organization model of Fiocruz collections at IHMT, and participate in a webinar organized by BIOTROP, heading for the participation of CPLP countries. Exchange in the scope of biobanking activities will be also promote, as well as online session regarding laboratory management software developed by Fiocruz, and monitoring of activities and results obtained under the educational programmes.
Click here to know more about the Biological Resource Center in Health (CRB-Health) of Fiocruz.