June of 2025

The SSPA Biobank has continued with its dissemination and awareness-raising work on the importance of donating biological samples for biomedical research. On this occasion, during the month of June, the Biobank team visited the facilities of the Davante MEDAC Foundation in Granada.
During the information day, more than 50 students from the center actively participated in the talk, in which addressed key issues on the functioning of the Biobank and the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research. The activity allowed students to awaken their interest in science and research, generating a space for reflection on citizen participation in the advancement of health.

Participation MeetingBetween 10 and 11 June, the SSPA Biobank was represented at a new edition of the ISBER 2025 Virtual Meeting, an international benchmark event in the field of biobanks.
On this occasion, our colleague Ana María Sánchez actively participated in the congress with the presentation of the poster entitled "Establishment of a Quality Control of Data in the Andalusian Public Health System Biobank", in which he presented the methodology and progress in the establishment of a data quality control system within the SSPA Biobank.

Next July, the SSPA Biobank launches, together with the training unit of the Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital, the first edition of the course ‘Support Structures for Biomedical Research’, a free 10-hour training course aimed at staff of the Andalusian Health Service.
The course will take place on July 23 and 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will address content key to supporting biomedical research, including the fundamental ethical and legal aspects, the operation of a biobank, and the handling of biological samples in research settings.
The course has 25 places and will be developed in blended mode, combining a theoretical part online through the GESFORMA platform, with a face-to-face session to be held in the facilities of the Regional University Hospital of Malaga. Currently, the course is in the process of being accredited by the Andalusian Health Quality Agency (ACSA).
See the full program here (link to the document) and register at the following link:
https://web.sas.junta-andalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/huvv/gesforma/faces/ventanas/curso/guiaAlumnos.xhtml

Our partner María Isabel García Sánchez, coordinator of the SSPA Biobank at the Virgen Macarena University Hospital in Seville, has been awarded €25,000 in the EME-REEM 2024 Call for Research Grants, for her project "Effect of a neuroprotective prebiotic in progressive multiple sclerosis through the microbiota-gut-brain axis and multi-omic approaches". The Call EME-REEM is an annual initiative organized by the Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Association (EME), in collaboration with the Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Network (REEM), with the aim of promoting quality scientific research in the field of multiple sclerosis.
Dr. García Sánchez shares more details at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPh5thCN6wJOQo4uCaz8dDZb0LtIz8H3u

The Biobank has two biological sample and data collection campaigns underway, aimed at boosting biomedical research in areas such as neurological diseases and cardiovascular risk factors.

Campaign on Neurological Diseases
This initiative is aimed at people affected by pathologies such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (als), Alzheimer's,. The aim is to create specific collections of samples and data associated with these diseases that can be used by the research community. With this, it seeks to promote progress in the diagnosis, treatment and knowledge of these ailments that affect thousands of people.
What is donated? Several tubes of blood obtained by venipuncture.
Who can participate? People diagnosed with a neurological disease or healthy people interested in collaborating as healthy controls.
How to participate? By contacting the SSPA Biobank via email: biobanco.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es or by calling 958 89 46 72.

Campaign on Cardiovascular Risk
We continue to promote the campaign on cardiovascular risk, aimed at people interested in being part of a study focused on cardiovascular risk factors, one of the main causes of disease and mortality worldwide.
Who can participate?

• Women and men who DO not receive hormone treatments (you can use contraceptives).
• Women and men who do not suffer from registered autoimmune diseases or other serious pathologies.
• People who have not been vaccinated in the last three weeks.
• Those who are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

What to donate?
Several tubes of blood obtained by venipuncture.
How can you be a donor? It's easy and fast:

• Call 958 89 46 69.
• Write to registro.donantes.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es.
• Or register directly on our website www.soydonanteparainvestigacion.es using your digital certificate.

Your partnership is critical to improving everyone's health. Join us in this cause!