Microbial collections were born in the late 19 th century as scientists began isolating, preserving and "collecting" microbial strains for study and reference. Institutions such as the Institut Pasteur and the Robert Koch Institute were pioneers in developing these collections, initially focused on microbial pathogens. Since then, much has changed regarding their missions and activities. The concept of "biobank" appeared about a century later and was formalized as "biological resource centers" by the OECD in 2001. This concept was extended to microbial collections, bringing a renewed meaning to the raison d´être of both historical and more recent microbial collections. Today, microbial biobanks are dedicated to the management and preservation of microbial biological resources, including strains, derivatives, and their associated data.
In this talk, I will discuss the major missions of biobanks: preserving these resources under optimal conditions to maintain their integrity, making them accessible to the scientific community to advance global research and knowledge and supporting the identification of biomarkers and the development of innovative drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tools. I will also address key aspects of quality assurance and regulatory compliance necessary to meet international standards."