EBW25 Workshops
Workshops are included in the congress pass and can be reserved at the time of booking. If you purchased an Early Bird ticket, you will be contacted to make your choice.
Visit to the Super Computing Center Bologna: 13 May (9:30 – 11:30)
This excursion will take participants to the ICSC National Research Centre, Italy’s hub for high-performance computing, big data, and AI-driven innovation. ICSC plays a key role in advancing AI applications in healthcare, supporting research in data-driven diagnostics, predictive modeling, and intelligent medical technologies.
Registered visitors will access The Super Computing Center at the Botte B5 and be guided to visit two rooms. These rooms host the high-performance computing resources of CNAF-INFN, which include an HPC Cluster, the Tier-1 of the distributed computing infrastructure dedicated to analysing data collected from CERN experiments, and an area dedicated to storage resources for medical data certified under ISO 27001/27017/27018.
The group will also visit the Leonardo Supercomputer, which is housed in the building next to Botte B5. Before visiting the Leonardo room, Cineca staff will provide visitors with information about the site, the precautions taken during the infrastructure’s development, and the characteristics and performance of Leonardo.
Important: Participants need an ID to enter the building
Address: Tecnopolo (Super Computing Center) Via Stalingrado 84/3, Bologna
Workshop 1: AI in Medicine: Navigating Trends, Ethical Frontiers, and Regulatory Landscapes (13:00-15:00 and 15:30-17:30)
This workshop explores the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in medicine, focusing on its latest applications and the ethical considerations surrounding its implementation. We will examine AI’s role in improving, e.g., diagnostic accuracy, personalising treatments, and enhancing patient outcomes through AI-driven clinical decision support, innovative data analytics, and intelligent medical devices. A key focus will be the EU AI Act, which is designed to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI in healthcare. We will analyse how this regulation addresses crucial issues such as privacy, algorithmic bias, and patient data security, aiming to establish best practices for equitable and responsible AI deployment. Through a multidisciplinary discussion, the workshop aims to harmonise AI development with ethical considerations, ultimately paving the way for a future where AI enhances healthcare for all while upholding societal values.
Target Audience: This workshop is intended for everyone working with biobanks who is curious about the chances and challenges of applying AI in biobanks and personalised medicine.
Workshop 2a: Traceability of Samples and Data – challenges, practicalities and successes (13:00-15:00)
This workshop will focus on issues and challenges relating to the traceability of samples and data in Biobanks under strict safety procedures and confidentiality, in compliance with the applicable regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, and the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Through a mix of presentations, and group discussions, attendees will gain specific knowledge on instruments and tools to guarantee effective Traceability of Samples and Data within a Biobank and among a Biobank Network, discussing challenges, practical issues, and success stories. Operational aspects of small and larger biobanks will be discussed, in view of options for automation or no automation. This workshop will consider practicalities and costs, highlighting the need for a dedicated biobank information management system.
Target Audience: This workshop is intended for biobank staff, quality managers, and researchers who work in a biobank and manage biospecimen.
Workshop 2b: Enhancing strategic visibility of biobank resources: an interactive workshop on BBMRI-ERIC tools (15:30-17:30)
Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop designed to enhance the findability and visibility of your biobank’s data, samples, and cohorts. This session will introduce key BBMRI-ERIC tools such as the Directory, Negotiator, Locator, and Finder, and offer practical insights into their advantages. Through online voting, presentations, and discussions, we will map common needs and obstacles faced by biobanks and National Nodes when using the tools. Participants will gain a realistic understanding of each tool’s functionality, benefits, and discuss best practices. This workshop is tailored for biobank management and National Node directors, aiming to foster collaboration and share testimonials.
Target Audience: This workshop is intended for National Node directors, biobank directors and high-level managers.
Workshop 3a: Building Bridges: Developing a patient and public engagement and involvement strategy (13:00-15:00)
The workshop will focus on ways to enhance patient and public engagement and involvement in biobanks and research. This will be done by providing guidance to the various participants (biobank staff, biobank managers, biobank directors, researchers, public engagement specialists) on how to design and establish their own patient and public engagement and involvement (PPIE) strategies to answer the needs of their biobank, laboratory, research. In this workshop, we will present success stories of engagement between biobanks and patient/public organisations.
Target audience: This workshop is intended for biobank staff, biobank managers, biobank directors, researchers, public engagement specialists who are interested in engaging and involving patients and public in their research and biobanking activities.
Workshop 3b: Multi-actor engagement approach for next generation Biobanking (15:30-17:30)
The way forward for next-generation biobanks performing or enabling research requires the adoption of innovative models that encourage active involvement from all stakeholders, with a view to ensuring scientific development that aligns with the principles of responsible research and innovation and open science.
The implications of adopting innovative forms of biobanking, as well as the possibility of biobank-derived cellular models and characterisation of biological material using omics technologies and artificial intelligence, may require rethinking concepts and practices within an effective engagement framework. This implies strengthening a community of practice involving the critical practical actors, citizens, patient associations, geneticists, clinicians, researchers and biobankers.
The workshop aims to share experiences and best practices and adjusting to changing ethical requirements concerning next generation biobanking impact. The diverse stakeholders will describe and share challenges, concerns and responsibilities to make possible a multi-actor engagement approach effective for next generation biobanking. A key focus will be both organoid biobanking and omics-supported biobanking.
Target Audience: This workshop is intended for biobank staff, biobank managers, biobank directors, researchers, public engagement specialists who are interested in engaging and involving patients and public in their research and biobanking activities.
Workshop 4: Basic Auditor Training in line with BBMRI-ERIC Audit Programme (13:00-15:00 and 15:30-17:30)
This interactive workshop provides foundational training for biobank staff, quality managers, and researchers aiming to develop auditing skills and take part in the BBMRI-ERIC Audit Programme as national auditors. Participants will learn the core principles of auditing within the biobank context, focusing on internal and external audits aligned with ISO 19011:2018 guidelines and ISO 20387 standards.
Through a mix of lectures, hands-on exercises, and group discussions, attendees will gain practical knowledge in audit planning, execution, reporting, and follow-up to equip them with the tools needed for effective auditing and quality improvement in biobanking.
Target Audience: This workshop is intended for biobank staff, quality managers, and researchers who are new to auditing and interested in developing their auditing skills and taking part in the BBMRI-ERIC Audit Programme as national auditors.