Nordic Biobank Network

As health data and biobank resources become increasingly accessible for research across borders, new opportunities emerge — alongside important ethical, legal and societal questions.
This workshop brings together stakeholders from across the Nordic region to explore how such research can be conducted collaboratively across the Nordic countries and beyond, while maintaining trust, legal clarity, and respect for participants. The programme is designed to facilitate dialogue between different national perspectives and professional backgrounds, with a focus on real-world challenges and practical experiences.

Workshop Format and Content
The workshop is structured around three thematic sessions addressing key dimensions of cross-border research using health data and biobank material.
The first session focuses on legal frameworks and data access procedures, examining how national governance structures, regulatory requirements, and practical processes influence the feasibility of Nordic collaboration.
The second session addresses informed consent in practice, exploring how consent models function when biobank material is reused for new research purposes, and how participant expectations are interpreted across different contexts.
The third session focuses on ethical and societal aspects, including trust, transparency, and the use of Nordic data in broader international research settings.
Each session combines presentations with plenary discussions based on concrete case scenarios. Discussions are guided by session chairs and structured around comparative questions, allowing participants to reflect on similarities and differences across countries.

Who Should Attend
The workshop is aimed at professionals working with biobanks, health data, and research infrastructure, researchers, patient representatives, as well as those engaged in governance, ethics and policy. It is particularly relevant for members of the Nordic Biobank Network and welcomes other stakeholders who can help broaden the perspectives discussed.

Practical Information
The workshop will take place on 2–3 June 2026 at Starvsfelagshúsið, J. H. Schrøtersgøta 9, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.
The programme runs from 09:00 to 16:15 on day 1 and from 09:00 to 12:00 on day 2.
Light breakfast, lunch and refreshments are included.

Organisers
The workshop is organised by the Faroese Health Authority in collaboration with the Nordic Biobank Network (NBN). The workshop is funded by NordForsk.

Registration and Contact
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.
Register for the workshop here

The Nordic countries have a rich history of pioneering, innovation, and global leadership in health research and healthcare. With so many new areas of discovery in precision and personalised medicine, it is timely and critical that Nordic stakeholders convene to discuss the current challenges and opportunities.

This conference will be an important arena to share knowledge and to network between Big Data biomedical scientists, biobank administrators, clinicians, biomedical industry researchers and executives, health system administrators, policymakers, educators and more.

More information