An agreement between ISS and SIAD has been signed to build ViVa, which is set to become one of Italy’s most extensive research biobanks. This facility will have the capacity to store a diverse range of biological samples, encompassing human, animal, and environmental origins. The primary focus is on maintaining the highest quality standards, facilitating comprehensive research that considers all aspects influencing our health. The biobank, strategically situated within the area of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, is expected to be fully operational in the first half of the upcoming year.
The new facility spans 700 square meters and has the capacity to accommodate up to 5,000,000 samples. It is being constructed in partnership with SOCIETA’ ITALIANA ACETILENE E DERIVATI (SIAD), a prominent chemical group in Italy, which developed the entire 3,500,000 euros project for the Institute. ViVa will include specialized sections outfitted with state-of-the-art technologies and tools for sample preparation, analysis, sample storage and related data positioning it as a pivotal hub for biomedical research.
“Biobanks are an indispensable tool for present and future research, and this realization, thanks to the support of SIAD, will help keep ISS and Italian public health at the forefront,” says Silvio Brusaferro, president of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
“Because it is designed and built with the best technologies. Moreover, a biobank of this level, which guarantees perfect preservation of biological samples and related data through the application of the highest quality standards,” he concludes.
“The SIAD Group was born in 1927 from the passion for research and innovation of its founders, Prof. Quirino and Prof. Bernardo Sestini, and has always supported the scientific world through scholarships, outreach projects to institutions and hospitals. By making available to Italian scientific research the best technologies and high skills present in the SIAD Group; we confirm a continuous and collaborative relationship with institutions and the community.
“Today, SIAD is oriented toward the world of Life Sciences and regenerative and personalized medicine. Our engineers and experts have been working side by side for months with ISS researchers to build the ViVa biobank. The result is a state-of-the-art biobank that has the ambition of boosting research and becoming a model and a benchmark for the biobank sector,” concludes Bernardo Sestini, SIAD CEO.
The whole facility will be divided into three sections. The first area will be dedicated to samples collected following strict standards to ensure the utmost sample quality. The second section will be reserved for preserving historical samples, which may not always meet all quality requirements but could still hold valuable information for future research. Lastly, the third area will serve as a disaster recovery zone, accommodating samples from other facilities facing critical situations during transitional periods.
The ViVa biobank maintains top-notch environmental sustainability by incorporating smart management technologies and the use of renewable energy sources that help reduce the facility’s environmental impact. Furthermore, its adaptable design ensures flexibility and modularity, catering to diverse research requirements and staying up-to-date with emerging technologies.
