ISBER 2025 Annual Meeting and Exhibits

All times are listed in Eastern Time (EST). Note that some program details are subject to change.

Monday, May 12

Biobank Site Visits 2:00pm - 5:00pm	Join us as we tour some of Montreal's renowned Biobanks.  This year, choose a site visit tour from five internationally renowned locations: Centre de Recherche du CHUM (Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montreal) C-BIG Repository Biodôme Montreal Insectarium at Biodôme Montreal Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank All tours include transportation and up to an hour-long tour of the facility. You may only attend one of the site visits. For more information about each visit, learning objectives and expectations,  click here! Register Now
Welcome Address & Getting to Know ISBER 5:00pm - 6:00pm	Join us and get to know ISBER Whether you are new to ISBER, a long-time member or considering to become a member, join us in this session to learn more about the Society and to ask questions!
Welcome Reception 6:00pm - 7:00pm	A welcome reception as we kick off the 2025 ISBER Annual Meeting. You may register to attend the Speed Networking activity that will take place during the reception pre-registration is required Meet your fellow delegates one on one in short, 5 minute increments Meet 10 or more delegates in this fun, interactive activity If you are new to the ISBER meeting or a regular attendee, this is a great opportunity to meet new biobankers and discuss what is going on in your biobank specifically and the international biobanking community in general. This activity is a reception with food and drinks. Register Now

Tuesday, May 13

SYMPOSIUM: Impact on Society 9:30am - 10:45am	Balancing Health Impact and Resource Challenges in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) Biobanking has the potential to significantly enhance healthcare in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) by addressing the increasing health burden. However, the establishment and operation of biobanks in these regions face considerable challenges, primarily due to resource scarcity, inadequate infrastructure, and limited funding. Political unrest, supply chain disruptions, and cultural factors can further complicate the situation, making it essential to understand and address these obstacles. In regions where biobanking can provide significant benefits, it’s essential to build upon locally led initiatives to ensure solutions align with cultural and practical realities, while leveraging external support where valuable. Collaborating with the international biobanking community allows us to share best practices, promote sustainable approaches, and address shared challenges. By fostering knowledge exchange and partnership, we can strengthen our collective response to these challenges. Such collaborative efforts will not only enhance biobanking capacity but will also play a key role in reinforcing healthcare infrastructure in LMICs.
Networking 10:45am - 11:15am	Morning Break
SYMPOSIUM: Impact on Understanding Human Disease 11:15am - 12:30pm	Biobanks on the Frontline: Impacting the Future of Disease Prevention and Pandemic Preparedness The disease prevention symposium will bring together experts and biobankers to explore the critical role of biobanks in the area of disease prevention, preparedness and response. Attendees will learn how this can be achieved through a variety of ways which include efficient resource management, collaborations, quality standards and considerations of ecological integrity. These presentations will showcase how biobanks support and contribute to advancing the field of disease prevention and pandemic preparedness under one health concept.
Lunch 12:30pm - 2:00pm	General lunch in the Exhibit Hall & Corporate Lunch Symposium
Contributed Paper Sessions CONCURRENT 2:00pm - 4:00pm	Session 1: Lessons from LMIC Biobanks: Health Impact and Global Insights Session 2: Biobanks on the Frontline: Impacting the Future of Disease Prevention and Pandemic Preparedness
Networking 4:00pm - 4:30pm	Afternoon Break
An Axiomatic Discussion/Une Discussion Axiomatique 4:30pm - 5:30pm	The Keynote Presentation/La Présentation Principale To open ISBERs 2025 Annual Meeting “Northern Lights: Impact of the Global Biobanking Spectrum” we present an Axiomatic Discussion that brings together three speakers, a patient, a surgeon and biobanker each sharing their unique yet shared experience around one story. From the perspective of a patient consenting to biobanking, understanding the reasons for agreeing to bank samples, how the world of biobanking and biospecimen science is introduced to a lay person. The experience of the surgical team, seeking consent, explaining the chance it can offer, their knowledge and understanding of the research and diagnostic requirements and the processes that need to be put in place to enable this banking to happen in an efficient and timely manner, Through to how biobanked samples can be utilised to help more than one patients diagnosis and the impact on research, how a network of biobanks can come together to create cohorts – showcasing how the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This axiomatic discussion will delve into the spectrum of biobanking, biospecimens and biospecimen science to shine a light on the ripple effect biobanking can have, in this example within the human arena, but by extension similarly in environmental and biodiversity spaces.
Networking 5:30pm - 7:00pm	Exhibitors and Posters Networking Reception Join us for a networking evening in the exhibit hall where you can connect with colleagues and exhibitors, and peruse the abstract posters. Poster presenters will be at their posters to network with delegates.

Wednesday, May 14

5km Fun Run/Walk 7:30am - 9:00am	Get ready to lace up for ISBER’s 5K Fun Run at this year's Annual Meeting! By purchasing a ticket, you'll join fellow runners in a scenic route through Old Montreal and along the St. Laurent River, topped off with our iconic ISBER 5K t-shirt. This year’s shirt captures Canada’s spirit with lively, dancing ISBER letters, reflecting the Northern Lights and our beautiful surroundings. Register Now
SYMPOSIUM: Impact on Global Practice 9:30am - 10:45am	Light of Success Debate The great debate! An exciting, engaging and thought provoking dive into some of the biggest questions being pondered by our ISBER community. Join us as key opinion leaders present opposing views on measures of value, sustainability and the evolving relationship between biobanking communities globally. How should we define value in biobanking? Does this differ between LMICs and HICS? What should sustainability mean to biobanks and have we lost our way? These are just some of the questions our engaging speakers will attempt to answer, a session not to be missed!
Networking 10:45am - 11:15am	Morning Break
SYMPOSIUM: Impact on Global Practice 11:15am - 12:30pm	Light of Success Debate The great debate continues!
Lunch 12:30pm - 1:15pm	General Lunch & Poster Viewing in Exhibit Hall Exhibitor Spotlights
Educational Workshops CONCURRENT 1:15pm - 2:15pm	TBD
SYMPOSIUM: Impact on Sustainability 2:30pm - 3:30pm	Eco-Responsibility in Biobanking: Energy-Efficient Solutions and Climate Impact on All of Us The Sustainability symposium will bring together experts and practitioners to explore the critical role of biobanks in promoting global sustainability. Attendees will learn best practices for establishing sustainable biobanks that prioritize ecological integrity and resource efficiency. Through a series of presentations, participants will discover how biobanking can support biodiversity conservation and environmental research. The symposium will also highlight the positive impacts of biobanking on local and global ecosystems. Join us to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborations that advance the field of sustainable biobanking for a healthier planet.
Networking 3:30pm - 4:00pm	Afternoon Break
Corporate Sessions CONCURRENT 4:00pm - 5:00pm	TBD
Round Table Discussions CONCURRENT 5:00pm - 6:00pm	Round Table submissions are open until Jan. 13, 2025 Submit here
Hot Seats for Hot Topics CONCURRENT 6:00pm - 7:00pm	Opportunities for Impact in Biobanking Regulations & Shipping Opportunities for Impact in Funding Opportunities Opportunities for Impact in Green Biobanking

Thursday, May 15

Corporate Sessions CONCURRENT 8:15am - 9:15am	TBD
SYMPOSIUM: Impact on Discovery 9:30am - 10:45am	Biobanking Enhancing Real-World Applications and Predictive Insight The practice of biobanking is intimately entwined with the generation, capture and analysis of data. This can be data derived from the participants and biospecimens themselves or linked to them through external digital databases and electronic records. This symposium will focus on the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning enabled through our biobanking efforts. By harnessing advanced algorithms and data analytics, researchers can enhance participant recruitment, sample collection and inventory management, streamline data retrieval, and improve predictive modeling for disease treatment. This symposium and contributed abstracts will bring together experts from diverse data-focused fields to discuss innovative analytics that maximize biobanking impact, and promotes collaboration through systematic data management that will significantly enhance our research utilization and outputs.
Networking 10:45am - 11:15am	Morning Break
SYMPOSIUM: Impact on Academic-Industry Engagement 11:15am - 12:30pm	Accelerating Research through Academic Biobanks-Industry Collaborations This symposium will explore the pivotal role of biobankers-industry partnerships in advancing scientific research and accelerating the translation of discoveries into real-world applications. Through success stories from biobankers and industry stakeholders, this session will highlight key opportunities from each perspective. Academic biobanks benefit from full cost-recovery models, reciprocal data-sharing and more, while early biotech companies leverage biobank resources to drive innovation from discovery to commercialization. Industry partners gain access to high-quality biospecimens for assay validation and product development, and patient partners contribute to speeding up the clinical translation of new treatments. Despite these benefits, challenges remain and navigating them can help to accelerate research by learning from each other. From the shared experience, we will discuss practical solutions, such as enhancing biobank visibility, improving outreach, and fostering transparency with intermediary organizations. This session will demonstrate how these collaborations are crucial for innovation, enhancing biobank sustainability, shaping research and advancing healthcare.
Lunch 12:30pm - 1:30pm	General Lunch in Exhibit Hall Posters Gallery Tour
Contributed Paper Sessions CONCURRENT 1:30pm - 3:00pm	Session 3: Eco-Responsibility in Biobanking Session 4: Enhancing Biobanking Session 5: Biobanking Impact on Industry-Academic Partnerships
Roundtable Discussions CONCURRENT 3:00pm - 4:00pm	Round Table submissions are open until Jan. 13, 2025 Submit here
Networking 4:00pm - 4:30pm	Afternoon Break
ISBER Business 4:30pm - 5:30pm	ISBER Annual General Meeting All ISBER members are invited to attend this meeting to hear a report of ISBER's activities and operations.
Networking Dinner 6:30pm - 10:00pm	ISBER Soirée Join us for this year’s ISBER Soirée, where we’ll celebrate together in beautiful Canada! Enjoy an evening filled with delicious food, drinks, and entertainment inspired by our vibrant destination. To join the festive spirit, we encourage delegates to wear red and white in honor of the Canadian flag, or blue and white in honor of the Quebec flag, or a mix of these colors! This is an event you won’t want to miss—come ready to unwind, connect, and experience a memorable night with a touch of Canadian flair! Location: to be announced soon Dress code: Cocktail, with a touch of red and white in honor of the Canadian flag, or blue and white in honor of the Quebec flag, or a mix of these colors! Register Now

Friday, May 16

Educational Workshops CONCURRENT 8:30am - 10:00am	TBD
Networking 10:00am - 10:30am	Morning Break
SYMPOSIUM 10:30am - 12:00pm	Rising Stars: Next Generation Biobankers
Short Lunch 12:00pm - 12:30pm	General lunch in foyer
Session 12:30pm - 1:15pm	More information soon
Biobanking in the World 1:15pm - 2:00pm	More information soon
Closing Remarks & Presentation of ISBER 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm

Late-breaking Abstract Submission period (for poster abstracts only): December 11 -January 13

The ISBER 2025 Annual Meeting will be a hybrid meeting including opportunities to attend in-person or virtually. As such, you may choose to present your abstract in-person in Montreal, Canada and virtually, or virtually-only via the virtual meeting platform.

Please note that all accepted abstracts presenters are expected to register (in-person or virtually) by the early bird deadline and to attend the ISBER Annual Meeting. Abstract presenters will be responsible for their own meeting-related expenses, including registration, accommodations,and travel.

Abstracts are accepted in these categories.

For the full list of late-breaking abstract submission guidelines, please click here. Please ensure you carefully review the submission guidelines and the formatting instructions before you submit your abstract.

Late Breaking Submission Deadline: Jan. 13, 2025 at 11:59pm North America Eastern Time.

Abstracts Notifications: Early January 2025

Late-Breaking Abstracts Notifications: Early February 2025

ISBER is pleased to accept workshop proposal submissions for the ISBER 2025 Annual Meeting. All workshop submitters should review the workshop proposal submission guidelines prior to completing their submission.

What's a workshop? A workshop is a long interactive meeting or educational session designed to create a specialized result. The workshop presenter(s) design the sequence of presentations, plan collaborative activities, and ensure the workshop will lead to the desired result.

Please note that all accepted workshop presenters are expected to register by the early bird deadline and to attend the ISBER Annual Meeting. Workshop presenters will be responsible for their own meeting-related expenses, including registration, accommodations, and travel.

Accepted workshop presenters may be asked to submit their presentation slides in advance of the meeting for review. Head Office will provide more information on this closer to the meeting.

Product advertisements are not appropriate for presentation. If you wish to host a corporate session, please see our corporate opportunities. Email sponsorship@isber.org for more information.

For the full list of workshop submission guidelines, please click here. Please ensure you carefully review the guidelines before you submit your workshop.

Submission Deadline: Nov. 13, 2024 at 11:59pm North America Eastern Time. Submissions are now closed

ISBER is pleased to accept Roundtable discussion submissions for the ISBER 2025 Annual Meeting. Round table discussions are an opportunity to get together with fellow delegates to discuss an important topic or challenge in biobanking in an informal setting. Submit a proposal to facilitate a discussion on this topic at the annual meeting, in-person in Montreal, Canada [recommended] or virtually.

What's a Roundtable Discussion? Roundtable sessions feature a group of presenters who will make brief, informal remarks about a specific idea or topic. They allow for extensive discussion and audience participation. These sessions can take many forms, with presenters delivering prepared statements or diving straight into questions from the moderator or audience. Regardless of format, they’re designed to elicit an exchange of viewpoints among the experts on a topic.

Past RoundTable Discussion topics include, but are not limited to:ISO20387 Systematic Review; Biobanking as an Informatics Problem; Evaluating and selecting the right packing materials for shipments; Benefits of Accreditation for Biobanking; Ethical Principles for International Biospecimen and Data Sharing; Challenges and solutions for clinical sites engaged in cancer biobanking; Striking the Balance: Tissue triage of rare diseases to balance the biospecimen demands of clinical care, molecular trials and discovery research; and many more.

Please note that all accepted rountable discussion facilitators are expected to register by the early bird deadline and to attend the ISBER Annual Meeting. Facilitators will be responsible for their own meeting-related expenses, including registration, accommodations, and travel.

Submit Your RoundTable Discussion Proposal

Submission Deadline *extended*: Jan. 13, 2025 at 11:59pm North America Eastern Time

                      

Meeting Venue

Hotel Bonaventure Montreal, 900 Rue De la Gauchetière O, Montreal, Quebec H5A 1E4, Canada

Conference Hotel

Stay at the heart of our meeting venue, the iconic Bonaventure Hotel, where elegance meets convenience in downtown Montreal. Located near the historic Old Montreal and steps from the St. Laurent River, this award-winning hotel offers 2.5 acres of rooftop gardens, a year-round heated pool, and easy access to all the city’s top attractions.

ISBER has secured an exclusive discounted rate of $307 CAD/night (plus tax) for meeting delegates, based on double occupancy. This rate includes complimentary in-room Wi-Fi . The deadline to reserve the hotel at the reduced rate is  Friday, April 18, 2025.

Rate: $307 CAD + tax per night

BOOK NOW

 

HOTEL TERMS & CONDITIONS

• The reduced rate can only be secured through the specific link above
• A valid credit card number is required upon making the reservation
• As per the hotel policy, should the holder of the reservation wishes to cancel their reservation, they will have up to 72 hours prior to arrival date to cancel said reservation with no penalty. Thereafter, the hotel will charge the equivalent of one room night plus associated fees to the credit card on file
• For the full hotel terms and conditions, please refer to the hotel booking link above

Applications for a travel grant to attend the ISBER 2025 Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Montreal, Canada on May 12-16, 2025, are now closed.

One travel grant is available to an individual in a lower or middle income country, as classified by the World Bank. Only applicants who currently reside in a lower or middle income country are eligible for this grant.

The travel grant recipient will receive:

• Economy class travel to Montreal, Canada
• Hotel accommodation for the duration of the event
• Daily per diem
• Complimentary registration for the event

If you will require a visa to travel to Canada, ISBER recommends you complete your visa application as early as possible, as there may be significant delays in processing visa applications. You can find more information on Canadian visas on the official website of the Government of Canada (IRCC):

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

You may use the following instructions from IRCC to further details about the visa application and timeline:

Visa Instructions

Should you require an invitation letter from ISBER to support your visa application, please register first. The confirmation email will include a link to submit a visa letter request.

Meet in Montreal, Canada and be part of this global get-together of biobankers working with human, environmental, animal specimens and others (digital, microbial, bacteria, etc). Discuss Biospecimen research and science, Commercial biobanking, Informatics and technology, Ethical, legal, and social issues, AI in biobanking, Repository automation technology, Repository management, Genetics / Genomics, Quality management, Repository information systems, Cryogenics / Cell preservation, Patient advocacy. The 2025 ISBER Annual Meeting & Exhibit anticipates over 700 delegates coming to Montreal, Canada. Sponsorship opportunities will be released shortly. Are you interested in securing a booth already? Email us today:

Contact Us Today

 

"...In the exhibit hall we could meet different vendors, service providers and brands, which is helpful to have an overview of new products and trends. I could also meet other colleagues from all over the world and exchange ideas, challenges [...]. I attend ISBER Meetings because they provide invaluable opportunities to network with fellow professionals, stay updated on the latest advancements, and collaborate on cutting-edge research and practices in the field of biobanking and specimen management."

Past ISBER Exhibitors:

Task Force Responsibilities:

1. Creating the Program for the ISBER Annual Meeting
2. Communicating with speakers who have been invited to the annual meeting, organizing the review of submitted abstracts, recommending and inviting co-chairs for each session of the annual meeting, and arranging various other details associated with the meeting

Task Force Co-Chairs:

Prof Daniel Catchpoole is an expert with over 20 years of lab-based research experience in the area of childhood cancer research, tissue pathology, genomics and cell biology. His experience includes basic research into cell and molecular biology, knowledge of clinical pathways through medical institutions including the pathology departments practices, everyday management of biobanks and linkage to required clinical data, the generation of complex genomic and biomedical dataset by high-throughput technologies and the high-end computational analysis of complex multi-dimensional data to draw out actionable knowledge which has clinical relevance. He currently is responsible for a co-aligned role between the Children’s Caner Research Unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead has been working in the Biomedical Data Science Lab at the School of Computer Science within The Faculty of Engineering and IT at The University of Technology Sydney. He is a founding member and first President of The Australasian Biospecimens Network Association and a past president of ISBER (2019-21).

Dr Anusha Hettiaratchi is the manager at Biospecimen Services, as part of the core services provided through the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre at the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia. She has 14 years’ experience as a bench scientist, and uses skills learnt and refined during this time to now enable research through UNSW Biospecimen Services. These services include Cold Storage Services, specimen processing laboratories including a biobanking database, assistance with ethics and the provision of samples and data through the Health Precinct Biobank. Anusha is an active member of ISBER and ABNA (Australasian Biospecimen Network Association). She has contributed to Annual Meeting Scientific Task Forces and co-chaired the 2023 Seattle conference. She was elected to the ABNA Management Committee in 2017 and is a past vice president (2018 – 2019) and president (2020-2021). She has worked on multiple ABNA sub-committees including the Conference Organising and Newsletter Committees and is the current ABNA Editor. Anusha is the ABNA representative on the Australian Standards Committee HE-032 and is a qualified NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) Technical Assessor to ISO 20387 and a member of NATAs Biobanking Accreditation Advisory Committee. Through professional networks, both global and local, she continues to offer help and advice to new biobankers and works to maintain the underlying collegiate aim of biobanking.

Dr. Vanessa Tumilasci is a recognized expert in strategic sourcing of human biological samples, with a strong focus on precision medicine and biomedical research projects. Her expertise in cultivating strategic partnerships across academia, hospital networks, and clinical sites ensures efficient and ethical sourcing of research models for R&D, embodying her mission to transform research through unique solutions. Known for her excellent communication and collaboration skills, Dr. Tumilasci excels in cross-functional teams, leveraging her 15+ years of experience to drive high-quality solutions in diverse stakeholder environments. Dr. Tumilasci holds an MSc in Biotechnology from Sao Paulo University (Brazil) and a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from McGill University (Montreal, Canada). During her training at the Lady Davis Institute/McGill University, she focused on developing a cancer combination therapy using oncolytic virus, which led to numerous peer-reviewed research publications and invited review articles. She also completed an industrial post-doctoral fellowship at MédiMabs (Montreal, Canada), specializing in bispecific antibody development. In 2012, she joined MédiMabs' project management team and, by 2015, she was leading their business development efforts. Dr. Tumilasci joined Azenta Life Sciences through the acquisition of Trans-Hit Biomarkers in 2016, starting as a Study Manager and advancing to Director of Biospecimen Sourcing Services, where she led the unit’s commercial activities.

Committee Members:

Task Force Responsibilities:

Engage the local biobanking and life sciences industries in the development of the ISBER annual meeting to both ensure they are well informed regarding the meeting and well positioned to share information regarding the meeting with their networks.

Committee Members:

 

ISBER is delighted to welcome you to the city of Montréal, in Quebec, Canada. Explore the city, check out the recommended practical information, plan your travels, and extend your stay! Visit the  official Montréal Tourism website for more information.

 

The Local Engagement Task Force is preparing a map of their favorite, local recommendations. Coming soon on this page!

 

Spring in Montréal is all about light showers, blooming flowers and gentle, sunny rays. Tap sugar shacks for maple treats, watch mural paintings, and attend art fairs, literature and music festivals in warmer days. Here's where to find historical weather forecasts, and inspiration of what you can do in and around Montréal in May:  What's on.

 

Already know you will visit many places in the city? Passport MTL is a city pass that can save you an average of 35% on your activities and outings. For more information, please click here. Note that some a ctivities such as a Cirque du Soleil show or hockey games tend to sell out fast. Make sure to book your tickets early!