April 2026

On April 10, professionals from the Granada Node and the Coordinating Node of the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) participated in the IV Meeting of Patient Associations organized by the San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital.

Under the slogan "Weaving networks of collaboration and support", the event brought together more than 600 people, including patients, family members, health professionals, Vocational Training students in health branches and citizens in general. In total, 84 groups from Granada and its province participated in a day held in the hospitalisation gardens of the centre.

During the meeting, the SSPA Biobank had the opportunity to present its activity to the health associations present, strengthening bonds and promoting collaboration. As a result, different briefings were closed with different entities.

Likewise, the day contributed to bringing the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research closer to the public, favoring the incorporation of new registered people and allowing to reach 4,200 people registered.

The SSPA Biobank has participated in the Regional Conference of the Professional Health Family, organized by the Motril Teacher Center, with a workshop called "Assessment, count and feasibility of cell cultures. ”The activity took place at the Impressive Playa Granada Golf Hotel in Motril and brought together more than 60 health teachers. Its objective has been to update the skills of teachers.

During the session, professionals from the Biobank Coordinating Node offered practical training in fundamental procedures for working with cell cultures, including Neubauer chamber cell counting, evaluation of cell viability using trypan blue, and subculturing, essential tools for working with cell cultures. Likewise, the participants had the opportunity to observe and analyze the morphology of different types of lines cell phones.

On April 28, the School of Health and Care of the Official College of Nursing of Granada organized a workshop focused on cognitive impairment, in which the SSPA Biobank participated to highlight the importance of the donation of biological samples and associated data in the advancement of research in neurological diseases. The day featured the assistance of more than 60 people, including healthcare professionals, patients and families.

During the meeting, the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research was presented as a key tool for citizen participation in research, facilitating the voluntary donation of samples and data for scientific purposes. Likewise, the active campaign was reported collection of samples from people with neurological diseases, aimed at creating a strategic collection that allows promoting the knowledge and development of new lines of research in this field.

People interested in participating in the campaign or being part of the Donor Registry can obtain more information through the telephone 958 894 669, from the web of the Donor Registry www.soydonanteparainvestigacion.es or by writing to the email registro.donantes.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es.

Once again, professionals from the SSPA Biobank Coordinator Node have participated in the CEIP Cultural Week San Miguel, with different dissemination activities aimed at awakening interest in science among students. In this edition, the workshops have been aimed at first and sixth grade students of Primary Education, combining learning and practical experimentation.

During the workshop entitled “Cell staining and observation”, the students had the opportunity to observe the microscope their own oral cells, directly discovering what they look like and how they are studied in the laboratory. Through this experience, they were also able to understand the importance of biological samples and associated data in disease research.

Likewise, during this month, the Coordinating Node of the SSPA Biobank has received the visit of ies students Emilio Muñoz and the Colegio Santo Domingo within the Open Days organized by the institution. These visits offered students the opportunity to learn first-hand about the work being done in a research biobank and the importance of their work in the biomedical field.

The SSPA Biobank has participated for the first time in the IV Fair of Socio-sanitary Associations and Social Welfare of Linares, which was attended by a guest of the Parkinson Linares Association, within the framework of the collaboration that both entities maintain.

During the day, the professionals of the Jaén Node of the SSPA Biobank presented their activity, as well as the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, to more than twenty patient associations of the health field that develops its work in Linares and in the province of Jaén.

This meeting was an opportunity to bring the SSPA Biobank closer to the Jienense associative fabric, favouring the exchange of information and experiences. As a result, different collaboration proposals have been generated with several of the associations participants.

The Association of Mothers and Fathers of Oncological Children of Granada, Aupa, has signed the expression of interest of collaboration with the Biobank of the SSPA, with the aim of working together in the dissemination, promotion and strengthening of the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research among patients and relatives of oncological children.

Both entities had already been collaborating since last February, when they shared space in the cancer information day organized by the association on the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day, bringing patients and families closer to the importance of donating biological samples and associated data for the advancement of research in these diseases.

Thanks to this agreement, "aupa" professionals will be able to independently inform and register patients in the Donor Registry and family members interested in participating in biomedical research.

The SSPA Biobank has participated together with the Andalusian Association of Cystic Fibrosis in the informative day on cystic fibrosis held on 22 in the hall of the San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital, organized on the occasion of National Cystic Fibrosis Day.

During the activity, professionals from the Granada Node and the Biobank Coordinator Node offered information to the attendees on the relevance of the donation of biological samples and associated data for the advancement of biomedical research. They also presented the different tools available in Andalusia to facilitate citizen participation in research, promoting the involvement of patients, family members and the general population in scientific and health development.

Professionals from the Provincial Node of Malaga of the SSPA Biobank participated in the april 16 and 17 at the Science and Technology Education Fair in Malaga, an initiative promoted by Principia Centro de Ciencia and integrated into the Andalusia Science and Innovation Fair Network, whose objective is to bring science and innovation closer to the educational community and promote interest in these disciplines among the youngest.

During the two days, the the Biobank team developed different workshops adapted to different ages. For children, activities were organized such as "What's inside us", in which participants made cells with plasticine, and an observation workshop on fungi and microorganisms linked to the theme "How we get sick".

On the other hand, ESO and Baccalaureate students they were able to participate in "The journey of a sample", a practical activity with which they learned about the path that a biological sample follows from its collection in the donor and transport to the biobank to its processing and conservation for later use in biomedical research projects.

During the month of April, the Third Edition of the Course "Support structures for biomedical research" was held, a training activity organized by the SSPA Biobank together with IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND.

The training brought together 20 healthcare professionals who have had the opportunity to delve into ethical and legal aspects related to the use of biological samples and data in research, in addition to becoming familiar with the procedures that guarantee the quality and traceability of these resources. The program also included a visit to the facilities of the Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga Node of the SSPA Biobank, offering a practical vision of the work carried out in this type of scientific infrastructure.

The organization is already working on a new edition of the course that is scheduled to be held next October. All the details can be found shortly on the SSPA Biobank website: www.biobancosspa.com