Terms and conditions for use of biological material and data from the Janus serum bank

The Janus Serum Bank is a biobank with blood samples from 318,628 Norwegians, reserved for cancer research. The biological material has been used in research since the 1980s, and is currently used by researchers both nationally and internationally. The research must be within the purpose of Janus serumbank, and all use of data and biological material is subject to Norwegian legislation.

Terms of use of the Janus serum bank

• The project manager must have research competence equivalent to PhD level
• The research projects must be within the purpose of the Janus serum bank. The purpose is described in the Guidelines for management and use of biological material and data from the Janus serum bank
• Before the biological material or research data can be handed over, the project must be approved by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK)
• The applicant must demonstrate that the project has a legal basis for processing pursuant to Articles 6 and 9 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and that the need for a data protection impact assessment has been assessed pursuant to Article 35 of the GDPR. The disclosure of information and/or biological material to third countries is subject to compliance with the conditions set out in the GDPR.
• At least one collaborator/co-author from the Cancer Registry of Norway must be appointed.
• Biological material or research data will not be disclosed until funding has been secured
• In order to manage the biological material in the best possible way, it is necessary to charge a financial fee for using the samples in research projects. More information and prices can be found here

Researchers wishing to apply for access to biological material and/or data must be aware of the following:

• All research projects involving information and/or biological material from the Janus serum bank require prior ethical approval from the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK), and must also have a legal basis for processing pursuant to Articles 6 and 9 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The applicant must also have assessed the need for a data protection impact assessment pursuant to Article 35 of the GDPR. The applicant must prove that the requirements are met before data can be made available. Disclosure of information and/or biological material to third countries requires that the conditions of the GDPR are met.