February of 2026

The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) has launched a new program aimed at establish collaborations with scientific entities and societies.

The objective of this initiative is to create a cooperation framework that strengthens the promotion and dissemination of the Andalusian Registry of Biological Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, as well as the services offered by the Biobank, among health professionals and researchers.

Within the framework of this program, during the month of February, Biobank professionals held a meeting with the board of directors of the Official College of Nursing of Granada (CODEGRA), held at the college's headquarters.

During the meeting, the scientific director of the Biobank, José Manuel Puerta, presented the operation of the institution and presented the main strategic lines that support this collaboration.

For her part, Raquel Rodríguez, president of the College, stressed that this initiative represents a very valuable opportunity for both entities, as it aligns with the work they want to develop from the school to enhance the role of nursing in research.

Both institutions have agreed to hold new meetings in the near future with the objective of formalizing this alliance by signing the corresponding collaboration agreement.

One more year, professionals from the SSPA Biobank join the celebration of 11f, International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The institution's programming has included three activities in the provinces of Cádiz, Granada and Málaga during the week of February 9 to 13 aimed at schools thus, professionals from the Provincial Node of Cadiz and the Coordinating Node of Granada have given an informative talk at the El Muro Secondary School in Puerto Real and at the Monaita school, respectively. On the other hand, colleagues from the Provincial Node of Malaga have held a workshop at the School of Early Childhood and Primary Education Ciudad Palma de Mallorca. With these activities the biobank tries to publicize the work of women who are dedicated to science, as well as to promote interest in these branches of knowledge among the public of different ages, especially girls and boys.

On February 13 we participated with an information stand in the first Days on the occasion of the International Day of Childhood Cancer organized by the Association of Mothers and Parents of Oncological Children of Granada "aupa".

The meeting took place at the Pfizer-University of Granada–Junta de Andalucía de Genómica e Investigación Oncológica (GENYO), a reference space in biomedical and oncological research.

During the day, we had the opportunity to inform researchers, clinicians and relatives of patients about the importance of donation of biological samples and data for research in oncohematological diseases. We have also shared the tools and ways available to facilitate their active participation in research projects to further advance knowledge and treatment of childhood cancer.

In February, the SSPA Biobank Coordinating Node participated, together with the Center for Medicine Transfusional, Tissues and Cells of Granada, in the collections organized in Casa Pinta (La Zubia) and in the Faculty of Health Sciences of Granada.

In these days, biological blood and urine samples have been collected, as well as associated data, from 44 healthy donors, which after processing have become a total of 1,312 serum, plasma, fraction cell and urine that have been incorporated into the Biobank's stock and are already available for use in biomedical research projects.

If you wish to collaborate on a research project by donating biological samples and data, or if you are a researcher and need samples for your study, you can contact us via email biobanco.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es or by phone 958 89 46 72.

During the month of February, the Coordinating Node of the SSPA Biobank was visited by students from Colegio Jesuitinas Santa María and Campus Formación Granada, within the framework of the annual program of open days.

These visits allow students to get closer to the work carried out in a research biobank, offering a practical view on the management of biological samples and their role in the advancement of biomedical research.

The open-door program is aimed at educational centers, patient associations and other groups interested in learning first-hand how a research biobank works. If you'd like to arrange a visit, you can request it through the following link:
https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud/biobanco/es/un-banco-para-formar/formacion-de-puertas-abiertas.

Our colleague, responsible for the research and services area of the SSPA Biobank, Purificación Catalina, has participated in the Academic-Professional Guidance Conference held at the Santo Domingo FESD School, in Granada.

During his speech, he presented the opportunities offered by degrees in health sciences, detailing their main professional opportunities and possibilities for development in the scientific field. He also explained to the students the different training paths to build a research career.

The session concluded with a presentation on her professional experience and her current work as a researcher in the SSPA Biobank, thus bringing the reality of biomedical research closer to educational environment.

· Organization of the X Edition of the Cytogenetics and Flow Cytometry Course, on March 11, 12 and 13, at the facilities of the Biobank Coordinating Node located in the Health Sciences Technology Park of Granada. All the information in: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud/biobanco/es/un-banco-para-formar/cursos/fundamentos-basicos-teoricos-y-practicos-de-citogenetica-y-citometria

· Participation in XII Congress of research students on 11, 12 and 13 March, at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Granada. All the information at: https://www.ceibsgranada.com