News 2019

18 June 2019-The University of California, CALeDNA Program joins GGBN

We are proud to announce that the University of California, CALeDNA Program has joined GGBN. As part of the GGBN-GGI 2019 awards program, the project will develop pipelines for e-DNA collections to GGBN and GBIF, acting as a prototype model for other e-DNA collections and will work with GGBN to demonstrate best practices for e-DNA curation. Approximately 1,000 soil, sediment and water samples representing 18,000 species will be added to GGBN.

10 June 2019-Job Advertisement-Director of Biodiversity Banking - Institute for Conservation Research

The Institute for Conservation Research has recently posted a job opening for a Director of Biodiversity Banking. The deadline for applications is Sunday, June 30, 2019.

3 June 2019-GGBN-GGI Awards Program 2019 Recipients

We are happy to announce the results of the GGBN-GGI 2019 Awards Program. A total of seven highly competitive proposals representing member and non-member institutions across four countries were received and ranked by a peer review committee representative of GGBN membership. The panel ranked the proposals on the following metrics: complementarity to existing collections on GGBN; the size, scope, and quality of the collection; the genomic novelty of the collections; adherence to GGBN best practices; the efficiency or cost-effectiveness of the proposal; contribution to the GGBN community; and the timeline for completion. The total funding requested was nearly 190,000 USD, and a little over 95,000 was awarded. Awardees will be contributing new genetic samples to the GGBN data portal by September 2020.

GGBN-GGI 2019 Awardees include:

• Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI)/Peru
• Missouri Botanical Garden/USA
• University of California, Los Angeles, UC Conversation Genomics Consortium/USA
• University of Karachi, Centre for Plant Conservation/Pakistan
• University of Torino, Dipartimento de Scienze della Terra/Italy

The titles and abstracts of these proposals can be found on the GGBN awards program page, along with general award program information.

Congratulations everyone!

28 May 2019 Call for Conference Host: GGBN 2022

GGBN’s Executive Committee is seeking a host organization for the 2022 conference. GGBN conferences are an opportunity to exchange knowledge on biodiversity biobanking, grow the community and facilitate best practices in genetic collections management and discoverability.

Emerging as a world leader in genetic collections databasing, the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) is an international scientific research network of biodiversity biobanks that collaborate to ensure the long-term preservation and discoverability of genetic samples from all life. GGBN advocates for the value of genetic samples, both today and into the future, and addresses key challenges associated with the management and use of these important resources. Together, GGBN’s member institutions promote access to information about, and legal exchange of, the genetic samples that they maintain. Our strategic areas include genomic sample management and discoverability, best practices for genetic collections, knowledge exchange and training, and communications and outreach. So far GGBN conferences have taken place in London, England; Berlin, Germany; Vienna, Austria and Shenzhen, China and we are always looking forward to expanding to new continents, countries, and cities.

The hosting location should have good travel connections and be able to host 100-150 participants. The local organizer is responsible for the facilities and the execution of the conference and conference budget. The organizer also has to secure sufficient funding (the Organizing Committee can offer their assistance in seeking grants and soliciting vendors). Conference dates will be determined in cooperation between the Organizing Committee and the local organizers.

Proposals to host the GGBN 2022 conference should include:

• Motivation. Describe your motivation and highlight the benefits.
• Budget. No real detail of the budget is required at this stage, however, the approach to hosting the conference and the resultant budgetary implications are required.
• Conference hosting options to include the possible venue/s, accommodations, meals, activities, and transportation options.
• Key attributes of the location and potential venues. Bullet points describing the advantages of the location and potential activities for attendees.
• Date options for the conference.
• Primary contact name and contact information.Preliminary list of names of members of the local organizing committee and their responsibilities.

Interested parties should submit their proposals to host the 2022 conference no later than December 1, 2019. Proposals will be reviewed by the Executive Committee and the 2022 host will be announced at the 2020 conference in Shenzhen, China.

The Conference Programfrom GGBN's 2018 conference is available as a reference.

23 May 2019 GGBN 2020 Conference May 11-15

It is our pleasure to announce that GGBN 2020, the 4th Conference of the Global Genome Biodiversity Network, will take place in Shenzhen China, May 11-15, hosted by the China National GeneBank. We hope that you can join us!

23 April 2019-Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank joins GGBN

We are proud to announce that the Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank has joined GGBN as its first Polish member. The genetic collection comprises 11,525 plant and 52 animal tissues, 8,497 plant and 14 animal DNAs and 20,000-50,000 specimens representing 163 plant and 2 animal species. Samples are stored in cold rooms (-3, -10, -20C), Freezers (-80C) and cryogenic containers (vapors of liquid nitrogen).

19 April 2019-GGBN-GGI Awards Due May 1

Thinking your genetic collections should be more visible for research? Do you require staff or other resources to make this happen? If so, then apply to the GGBN-GGI 2019 awards program. Deadline for proposals is May 1st. See https://wiki.ggbn.org/ggbn/Global_Genome_Biodiversity_Network-Global_Genome_Initiative_Awards_Program

12 April 2019-GGBN Focus Group Meeting, Washington DC

GGBN members met this week at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC to 1) discuss GGBN's dues model and possible changes based on needs of the network and 2) to develop a marketing strategy to facilitate better communication with the research and collections communities. Member participants attended from Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Georgia, Germany, United Kingdom, United States. A report will be developed over the next few weeks and distributed to the Executive Committee and the 88 members of the General Assembly for review and comment this summer.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week!

02 April 2019-GGBN March 2019 Newsletter Published

GGBN's March 2019 Newsletter is now available for your reading pleasure.

18 March 2019-Botanical Research Institute of Texas joins GGBN

We are proud to announce that the Botanical Research Institute of Texas has joined GGBN as its 22nd United States member. BRIT's biorepository opened in January of 2019 and will help lead the Global Genome Initiative Gardens collecting program, which partners with arboreta, botanic gardens, and greenhouses worldwide to preserve the incredible diversity contained within these living collections.

01 March 2019-National Biodiversity Cryobank of Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature joins GGBN

We are proud to announce that the National Biodiversity Cryobank of Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature, has joined GGBN as its 3rd Canadian member. The genetic collection includes 4,500 DNA and 30,000 tissue samples representing microorganisms, plants, vertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates and marine invertebrates.

06 February 2019-GGBN-GGI Awards Program 2019 Call for Proposals

We are happy to announce the call for proposals for the GGBN-GGI 2019 Awards Program. The program provides funding for projects that support the discoverability of new genetic collections through the Global Genome Biodiversity Network's Data Portal. The next submission deadline for proposals will be May 1 2019. The proposal review committee will consider requests for up to 30,000 USD with clearly articulated budget justifications. For more information on the GGBN-GGI awards program, including information on how to apply, please visit the Global Genome Biodiversity Network-Global Genome Initiative Awards Program Page.

22 January 2019-Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Center joins GGBN

We are proud to announce that the Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Center has joined GGBN. The genetic collection includes 16,890 tissues and 3,609 DNAs of plants.