Executive summary

Prospective biobanking is reshaping the way biospecimens support precision medicine. Unlike traditional retrospective collections, prospective models align sample collection with the immediate needs of research, ensuring higher relevance, integrity, and ethical compliance. As biobanks evolve into active research partners rather than passive repositories, prospective collection enables fresher material, better data context, lower waste, and greater impact across rare disease research, precision oncology, and translational science. This shift reflects a broader transformation toward demand-driven, ethically aligned, and data-rich biospecimen strategies.

Key insights

• Prospective beats retrospective: Samples match study criteria and preserve molecular integrity.
• Ethical by design: Consent aligns directly with real research use.
• Better for rare diseases: Enables targeted, fresh collection where sample scarcity is critical.
• Supports precision medicine: Prospective samples mirror real-world patient needs and data context.
• Higher operational efficiency: Less storage waste, more meaningful use, tighter feedback loops.

How biobanks have evolved

Biobanks have become essential to global biomedical research. Once small, local repositories, they now support large international infrastructures such as BBMRI. Their role has expanded alongside the growth of genomic research, precision medicine, and multimodal data integration.

For decades, most biobanks relied on retrospective collection: storing samples for future, undefined research. This approach is increasingly challenged by:

• Low utilization of stored biospecimens
• High long-term storage and maintenance costs
• Limited cost recovery
• Ethical concerns about collecting samples without clear research use
• Uncertainty when unused materials remain after a biobank closes

The rise of prospective biobanking

Prospective collection is an on-demand model where samples are gathered specifically for an active research project. Investigators define the required characteristics, and biobanks collect and process biospecimens according to those specifications.

This model is especially valuable when researchers need:

• Fresh, high-quality samples for downstream analyses
• Material from rare disease cohorts
• Multiple sample types or linked clinical data
• Consent that matches specific study requirements

Prospective biobanking ensures that samples are collected with purpose, quality, and compliance in mind.

Key advantages of prospective collections

Prospective models address many limitations of traditional biobanks and offer clear benefits for researchers:

Better study relevance

Samples directly match protocol-defined criteria, improving scientific validity.

Improved sample integrity

Reduced long-term storage limits molecular degradation and variation.

Greater operational efficiency

Biobanks avoid maintaining large unused inventories and can reduce storage costs.

Stronger ethical alignment

Donor consent is tied to immediate, clearly defined research purposes. Some experts even suggest the term “biodistributor” to describe this active, impact-driven role.

Why prospective collection matters for modern research

As precision medicine accelerates, demand for fresh, well-annotated biospecimens continues to grow. Prospective biobanking supports this shift by enabling:

• Access to rare disease samples that are otherwise difficult to source
• More personalised and population-relevant research
• Faster collaboration between biobanks, clinicians, and investigators
• Better alignment with patient expectations and data governance standards

Prospective collection is becoming a global standard, connecting high-quality biospecimens, robust data, and ethical oversight to drive the next decade of biomedical innovation.

References

• Riegman, P. H. J., Morente, M. M., Betsou, F., de Blasio, P., and Geary, P. (2008). Biobanking for better healthcare. Molecular Oncology, 2(3), 213–222.
• Biobanking.com. (2021). The importance of biobanking in modern medical research.
• Grizzle, W. E., and Sexton, K. C. (2019). Commentary on improving biospecimen utilization by classic biobanks: identifying past and minimizing future mistakes. Biopreservation and Biobanking, 17(3), 243–247.
• Cadigan, R. J., et al. (2013). Neglected ethical issues in biobank management: results from a U.S. study. Life Sciences, Society and Policy, 9(1), 1.
• Grizzle, W. E., Sexton, K. C., McGarvey, D., Menchhofen, Z. V., and LiVolsi, V. (2018). Lessons learned during three decades of operations of two prospective bioresources. Biopreservation and Biobanking, 16(6), 483–492.
• SampleSmart. (2021). Biospecimen collection: prospective vs retrospective.