Biodiversity Biobanks

Biodiversity Biobanks Proposal

As a research infrastructure project funded by the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation (DSTI)  and co-ordinated and hosted by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA) is a network of participating institutions that hold biodiversity biobanks, rather than a single facility. Under the leadership of BBSA director Professor Michelle Hamer (and now Acting Director Dr Mudzuli Mavhunga), the BBSA has provided a coordinating structure across several of South Africa’s existing biodiversity biobanks, with the main aim of increasing the range and quality of samples stored and/or distributed, and increasing and improving access for research and development through a single, centralised data portal, which will also allow more strategic collection of samples.

Want to know more about the plan for the BBSA? Read the  Full Biodiversity Biobanks Proposal – Download PDF here

BBSA Business Plan

The BBSA was initiated in 2018, and after a long process of community engagement and proposal development and approval, the agreement between SANBI and the DSI was finally signed at the beginning of 2021.  Since then, guided by the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa Business Plan, the BBSA has (among other things):

• Reviewed legislation for collecting, housing and distributing samples
• Developed a Draft Access Policy
• Become a member of the Global Genomic Biodiversity Network (and extended membership to participating biobanks)
• Upgraded sample databases for participating institutions
• Recruited staff at core institutions, including curators and technicians, who have helped biobanks meet their objectives
• Allocated about R35m in funds over two years to core biobanks for upgrading storage facilities, procuring freezers, monitoring and quality assurance equipment, and more.

Interested in the initial BBSA business plan? Business Plan (2020/21 – 2022/23) – Download PDF here

A Living Plan

As a research infrastructure project funded by the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation (DSTI)  and co-ordinated and hosted by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA) is a network of participating institutions that hold biodiversity biobanks, rather than a single facility. Under the leadership of BBSA director Professor Michelle Hamer (and now Acting Director Dr Mudzuli Mavhunga), the BBSA has provided a coordinating structure across several of South Africa’s existing biodiversity biobanks, with the main aim of increasing the range and quality of samples stored and/or distributed, and increasing and improving access for research and development through a single, centralised data portal, which will also allow more strategic collection of samples.

Want to see what’s on the current BBSA Business Plan? Here you go:  Business Plan (2023 – 2026) – Download PDF here

And remember: the BBSA story isn’t over yet. Stay tuned for more developments!

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