The second meeting of the Lusophone Network of Biobanks and Biological Collections took place online on 25 September, 2025, building upon the consensus reached during its inaugural session in April 2023.
This working meeting aimed to promote the development, strengthening, and future formalisation of the Network. The event brought together 37 participants from 17 institutions across eight countries — Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, China, France, and Portugal.
The increased participation compared to the inaugural meeting highlights the growing interest in and relevance of a collaborative network with these characteristics.
During the session, participants discussed key issues related to the formal establishment of the Network and the creation of a common agenda to guide its next steps. On the next meetings, the identification of each member country’s strengths, challenges, and benefits, will contribute to build a collaborative framework that recognises and leverages the diversity and potential of all participants.
An initiative led by BIOTROP – Biotropical Resources, the biobank of GHTM IHMT-NOVA, co-organized with Coleções Biológicas da Fiocruz, this meeting represents an important milestone in strengthening collaboration among Portuguese-speaking countries in the field of biobanking.
The creation of the Lusophone Network of Biobanks will foster the exchange of best practices, supporting the growth, maturation, and visibility of the participating collections and paving the way for future collaborations and scientific advancements in biobanking and biomedical research. Ultimately, this cooperation will contribute to advancing Global, Sustainable, and Equitable Health.