Hyderabad, Mar 7 (TNT): The International Biobanking Conference 2026 was organised at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) here on Saturday, bringing together national and international experts to discuss technology-driven innovations in biomedical research and healthcare.
The conference was organised by the Biobank India Foundation in collaboration with the DST–Technology Enabling Centre and ASPIRE-BioNEST under the theme “Technology-Driven Biobanking: Enabling Innovation from Bench to Bedside.”
The event brought together clinicians, researchers, industry representatives and policy experts to deliberate on how advanced biobanking technologies are accelerating research in areas such as precision medicine, cancer research and public health.
Biobanks play a crucial role in collecting, preserving and managing biological samples such as blood, tissues and DNA along with clinical data, enabling scientists to develop improved diagnostics, therapies and personalised healthcare solutions.
Chairman of Continental Hospitals Guru N. Reddy attended the inaugural session as the chief guest and highlighted the growing importance of collaboration between hospitals, research institutions and biobanks to advance translational medicine and improve patient outcomes.
Welcoming the participants, Rajagopal, Coordinator of the DST–UoH Technology Enabling Centre and Director of ASPIRE-BioNEST, emphasised the need to strengthen technology-enabled biobanking infrastructure to support innovation in the life sciences sector.
Other speakers included Nandini K. Kumar, former Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research and President of the Biobank India Foundation; Anand K. Kondapi, Dean of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hyderabad; Birendra Kumar Yadav, National Director of the Biobank India Foundation; and Daniel Catchpoole, Chair of the BBIF International Advisory Committee from Australia.
The scientific programme featured keynote lectures by Rohit Gupta from Chronicle Bio, USA.
The prestigious Prof. Shankar Oration was delivered by Anita Mahadevan of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and Annie Hasan from Kamineni Hospitals.
Experts highlighted the growing role of digital platforms, brain biobanks and genetic counselling in enabling next-generation biomedical discoveries and translating research into clinical practice.
A major focus of the conference was the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health perspectives. Experts from Europe, Australia, Africa, Indonesia and India shared insights on emerging trends in Biobanking 4.0, including digital infrastructure, automation and advanced data management systems.
The conference also featured presentations by Appa Rao Podile and Ch. Venkata Ramana from the University of Hyderabad, who spoke on the role of microbial biobanks in research on microbial diversity, environmental sustainability and biotechnology.
The event was coordinated by Sunil, Principal Scientific Officer at the DST–UoH Technology Enabling Centre; Birendra Kumar Yadav; Anil Kondreddy, CEO of ASPIRE-BioNEST; and Ramakrishna, CEO of TBI, along with a team of faculty members, researchers and volunteers.
The conference served as a platform for strengthening global partnerships, advancing biobanking standards and promoting technology-driven biomedical research aimed at improving healthcare outcomes.
TNT TS
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