The conference “Discover research and what IDIVAL offers” focused on bringing biomedical research closer to first-year residents through a practical and accessible approach. Within this framework, the Valdecilla Biobank played a leading role during key presentations by María José Marín, scientific director and Inés Santiuste, coordinator of the DNA and fluids node. Their message to attendees was clear: there are resources, guidance, and structures available at IDIVAL to facilitate starting research from the very beginning of a residency.
During her presentation, Marín introduced IDIVAL’s technological support services—specialized infrastructures that provide researchers with access to advanced scientific equipment, technical advice, and the methodological support essential for developing competitive projects. “The main objective of these units is to optimize the use of infrastructure and resources dedicated to research,” she explained.
The Biobank’s scientific director detailed the various platforms currently available at the institute, including: flow cytometry and cell sorting unit, advanced microscopy unit, metabolomics unit and the Valdecilla Biobank itself.
She emphasized that all these units are open to professionals wishing to launch research projects, regardless of their previous experience. Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of the expert guidance offered by these units, encouraging residents to reach out to technical managers for advice to help shape their research ideas from the earliest stages.
The Biobank: guarantees, quality, and access to research samples
Inés Santiuste focused her intervention on explaining what a biobank is and how it can become a strategic ally for any clinical researcher, debunking the perception of complexity often associated with working with human biological samples.
“I am going to try to take away your fear of researching with biological samples,” she noted, before detailing how the Valdecilla Biobank collects, processes, stores, and distributes samples based on criteria of quality, traceability, and safety—elements essential to ensuring the reliability of scientific results.
Additionally, she stressed the biobank’s role as a guarantor of the ethical and legal aspects of research, protecting donor rights and ensuring data confidentiality in compliance with current regulations.
During her talk, she also provided practical explanations on how researchers can: Access available samples. Request new collections, Utilize national and international networks when the necessary material is not available at the center.
The Valdecilla Biobank’s participation in this conference succeeded in conveying a fundamental idea to new residents: “Research at IDIVAL has solid resources and specialized professionals that make it easier to turn a clinical curiosity into a real project.”.
