The Korea Biobank Network’s Human Bioresource Sharing and Access Platform, established in 2019, aims to expand the accessibility of the disease-based bioresources collected through KBN and develop a system to collect high-quality standard clinical information, thereby establishing a distribution support system tailored to researchers.
The KBN portal is the largest shared open platform for disease-based resource owned by KBN biobanks involved in KDCA(Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) KBP(Korea Biobank Project). It discloses and shares related information including disease-based resource status, systematic search, efficient distribution, and utilization outcomes to researchers in order to improve the efficient utilization of national disease-based resources.
Structure is organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare(Division of Bioethics Policy), the KDCA Korea National Institute of Health(Division of Biobank, Department of precision Medicine), KBN Biobanks.
Ministry of Health and Welfare (Division of Bioethics Policy)
▣ Overall management of National bioethics policy
▣ Korea Biobank Project related system support
KDCA KNIH (Division of Biobank, Department of precision Medicine)
▣ KBN management (National Biobank of Korea management)
▣ Collection, management, and distribution of large-scale population-based human bioresources
▣ Human bioresource management standardization and technology development
Human Bioresource Regional Banks
▣ Collection, management, and distribution of disease-based human bioresources
▣ Organiztion and operation of Korea Biobank Council
In 2026, the Korea Biobank Project (KBP) entered its 5th phase with a renewed vision to drive innovation in national healthcare R&D through biobanks, build a world-class biobank ecosystem, and maximize the value of human biospecimens.
Through the KBN, leading biobanks across Korea work together to collect, manage, share, and utilize high-quality human biospecimens, supporting biomedical research and the development of innovative healthcare solutions.
The Phase 5 Project includes initiatives for collaborative subnetworks for specific disease-targeted future biobanking (n=10), biobank innovation consortia for biomedical and healthcare research (n=4), and dementia brain banks (n=4).
Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital
Kangwon National University Hospital
SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center
Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center
Pusan National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
THE Catholic University of Korea, Eunpyung ST, Mary's Hospital
THE Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon ST, Mary's Hospital
THE Catholic University of Korea, Deajeon ST, Mary's Hospital
Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital
Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center
Ajou University Hospital
Yongin Severance Hospital
Chungnam National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital
Konyang University Hospital Biobank
Biobank of Chonnam National University Hospital
Wonkwang University Hospital biobank
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Samsung Medical Center
Jeonbuk National University Hospital
Hanyang University Hospital
Celemics, Inc
Office of Research Affairs University Industry Foundation Yonsei University
Apple tree Medical Foundation
Pusan National University Dental Hospital
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
CHA University Bundang Medical Center
Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center
ChungBuk National University Hospital Biobank
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Samsung Medical Center
Inha University Research and Business Foundation
Chonnam National University Hospital
Pusan National University Hospital
Suwon Happiness Mental Health Walfare Center
Gyeongsang National University Hospital
Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center
Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center
Pusan National University Hospital
Inha University Hospital
National Biobank of Korea
Collaborative subnetworks for specific disease-targeted future biobanking
Biobank innovation consortia for biomedical and healthcare research
Dementia brain banks
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5854
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KBN Human bioresources application procedure for distribution.
KBN distributes the collected human bioresources to researchers for domestic healthcare R&D. For access to, researcher(s) residing in Korea and carrying out a research project that has obtained IRB approval(or exemption) can apply for access to human bioresource distribution, and if approved by the Access and Sharing Committee, the bioresources are released.
Hematologic diseases, Atopy, Healthy controls
Hematologic diseases, Atopy, Healthy controls
Brain tumor, Ovarian cancer, Endometrial cancer, Lung cancer, Placenta, etc.
Hematologic diseases, Atopy, Healthy controls
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Rare gastrointestinal diseases, Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), MALT lymphoma
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Prematurity, Pediatric and adolescent diseases
Gastrointestinal diseases, Liver diseases, Cardiovascular diseases, Breast and female reproductive system diseases
Kidney disease
Kidney disease
Kidney disease
Oral disease
Oral disease
Oral disease
Oral disease
Pancreatic cancer, Biliary tract cancer, Lung cancer, Ovarian cancer
Healthy controls, Lung cancer
Ovarian cancer
Cardiomyopathy (HCM, DCM, ICM, etc.)
Cardiomyopathy
Gastrointestinal diseases, Liver diseases, Cardiovascular diseases, Breast and female reproductive system diseases
Liver cancer, Liver cirrhosis, Chronic hepatitis, Other liver diseases, Healthy controls, Various cancers
Gastrointestinal diseases, Liver diseases, Cardiovascular diseases, Breast and female reproductive system diseases
Liver cancer, Liver diseases, Healthy controls, Genitourinary cancers
Healthy controls, Lung cancer
Breast diseases, Female reproductive system diseases, Pregnancy, Postpartum period, Autoimmune diseases
Gastrointestinal diseases, Liver diseases, Cardiovascular diseases, Breast and female reproductive system diseases
Various cancers, Cardiovascular diseases, Psychiatric disorders
Breast diseases, Female reproductive system diseases, Autoimmune diseases, Respiratory diseases
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Osteoarthritis, Infectious diseases
Aging and degenerative diseases, Infectious diseases
Five major cancers
Liver cancer, Gastric cancer, Lung cancer
Liver cancer, Gastric cancer, Lung cancer
Liver cancer, Gastric cancer, Lung cancer
Sarcoma cancer
Chronic cerebrovascular disease
Developmental disability, CADASIL
Normal tissue
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