February of 2025

On 19, 20 and 21 February, the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) held the IX Edition of the course "Basic theoretical and practical foundations of cytogenetics and flow cytometry". The training has been held at the facilities of the Coordinating Node of the SSPA Biobank, located at the Scientific Instrumentation Center of the University of Granada, in the Health Technology Park.
The course has focused on the use of cytogenetics, flow cytometry and genome editing techniques for the characterization of multipotent and pluripotent cells, fundamental in the biomedical research. Its main objective was to provide theoretical and practical knowledge on the methodology applied to the characterization of hMSCs, hESCs and iPSCs cells, in addition to addressing good laboratory practices, identification of common errors, optimization of techniques and problem solving.
Given its eminently practical approach, the training has had a capacity limited to 20 participants, allowing for a better learning experience. In this edition, the course has been recognized with 3.74 credits by the Andalusian Health Quality Agency, and has received a high rating from the attendees. With this IX edition, 180 professionals have been trained in these fields in the SSPA Biobank, consolidating itself as a reference training in the field of biomedical research.

Once again, the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) has organized various activities at its nodes to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child and Women in Science, celebrated on 11 February. These initiatives have made it possible to bring the work of the biobank and the importance of biomedical research to students of different educational levels.
In the Seville Node of the Biobank of the SSPA of the Virgen Macarena University Hospital, it was taken to held a workshop aimed at fifth-graders, in which children discovered how human biological samples are managed in a biobank.
For its part, the Provincial Node of Jaén of the Biobank of the SSPA received the visit of the ies Los Cerros de Úbeda, whose students were able to know first-hand the path that a biological sample follows from its donation to its use in a research project.
Likewise, the professionals of the Coordinating Node of the SSPA Biobank in Granada visited the ies Padre Manjón and the Instituto de Formación Profesional MEDAC Granada, where they presented the SSPA Biobank and the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research as key tools for citizen participation in the research.
All these activities were taught by women who carry out their professional work in the biobank, thus reinforcing the commitment of the SSPA Biobank with the promotion of the role of women in science. Thanks to this initiative, nearly 200 children of different educational levels have had the opportunity to approach biomedical research and learn about the impact of science on society.

On March 13, Dr. Tatiana Díaz, representative of the Provincial Node of Malaga of the Biobank of the SSPA, participated as a speaker in the First Expert Diploma in Clinical Research and Monitoring of Clinical Trials.
During his speech, he presented the SSPA Biobank and the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, highlighting their importance in the advancement of scientific research. participation reinforces the Biobank's commitment to training and dissemination in the biosanitary field.

During the month of February, the SSPA Biobank Coordinating Node collaborated in a new organized blood collection by the Transfusion, Tissue and Cell Centre of Granada. The activity took place at the Biomedical Research Center of the University of Granada and allowed the collection of biological samples for various scientific projects.
In addition, attendees received information on the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, encouraging participation in biosanitary research.

Representatives of the SSPA Biobank Coordinating Node have met with officials of the Friends of Morocco Association with the aim of encouraging the participation of this community in biomedical research through the donation of biological samples and data.
During the meeting, biobank professionals presented the SSPA Biobank and the Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, highlighting the importance of citizen involvement in the advancement of science. As a result of the meeting, both entities have defined lines of collaboration to facilitate and promote the contribution of this group in future scientific studies.