BioLink - Grants for the networking of biobanks established for research purposes: call for proposals

The SNSF is launching a call for project proposals aimed at networking biobanks by harmonising their IT systems. The networking serves a well-defined scientific research purpose. The call is open to all research domains.

BioLink is intended for investigators who wish to network their biobanks using IT systems. This harmonisation of IT systems will result in the sharing of data so as to address well-defined, scientific questions. BioLink is open to all research domains and responds to the needs for networking IT systems of existing biobanks and of biobanks that are being or will be created.

Applications must be based on original, unique and timely scientific questions whose investigation critically depends on the networking of the biobanks. Applications must also provide information on the selection, development and implementation of the IT systems. Further, they must also describe how the interoperability of the biobanks will be guaranteed in the long term.

The duration of funding is limited to 24 months. The grants are awarded to support the technical development and the implementation of IT systems (IT equipment, sotfware, licences) as well as the salaries of technical collaborators employed to implement the IT systems. Costs for the creation, expansion and maintenance of biobanks, as well as research costs associated with the investigation of the scientific questions addressed, cannot be covered.

Call for proposals

Three and a half million Swiss francs have been allocated to the 2016 call with the intention of supporting 4 to 6 projects. A subsequent call, endowed with a similar budget, will be launched in 2018.

Submission deadlines

Letters of intent are to be sent to the following e-mail address by 12 July 2016:

E-mail:biolink@snf.chExternal Link Icon

Application are to be submitted by 23 September 2016 via mySNF.