The Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks (TNGB) has been founded in 2008 by 7 Biobanks supported by Telethon Foundation, whose purpose is to collect, preserve and offer to the Scientific Community biological samples and related clinical data from individuals affected by genetic diseases, from their relatives or from healthy control individuals. TNGB also offers its services to Patients’ Associations.

At present, the Network is constituted of 11 Biobanks.

The aim of the Network is to coordinate and manage the Biobanks’ activities in order to enhance synergy and provide scientists with an effective service responding to the highest quality standards, according to rigorous ethical principles complying with Italian laws and International Recommendations.

Over the years, national and international scientists have extensively used the TNGB with different purposes. The complete list of the scientific publications acknowledging the TNGB services is available here.

At the European level, TNGB is partnering with EuroBioBank Network and since its inception the Network has joined as associated member the pan-European research infrastructure BBMRI. Since 2014, all Biobanks of the Network have been admitted to the Italian Node (BBMRI-IT) and have signed the BMMRI-IT Partner Charter.

TNGB also is one of the associated partners of the European RD-connect project aimed at connecting databases, registries, biobanks and clinical bioinformatics for rare disease research.