The National Public Health Institute (INSP) has inaugurated a national biobank, conceived as a strategic repository of biological samples that will strengthen scientific research, public policy design, and key projects such as the National Health and Nutrition Surveys (Ensanut). The new infrastructure is located at the Institute's facilities and integrates institutional efforts to generate robust evidence for public health decision-making in the context of growing epidemiological and social challenges. During the inaugural event, the General Director of INSP, Eduardo César Lazcano Ponce, emphasized that the launch of the Biobank coincides with the Institute's 39th-anniversary celebration and highlighted the support of the Rio Arronte Foundation for the modernization of the ultra-freezing infrastructure. The director of the Center for Research on Infectious Diseases (CISEI) of INSP, Jesús Martínez Barnetche, explained that the Biobank is equipped with 25 ultra-freezers, a cryogenic chamber, five freezers, three refrigerators, and two cabinets for aliquot preparation. This infrastructure allows for the safe and prolonged storage of samples such as blood, urine, plasma, and serum, which are fundamental for epidemiological research, clinical studies, and national public health projects. The samples stored in the Biobank represent an essential source of information for research like Ensanut, as well as for studies aimed at the prevention and care of diabetes, the monitoring of chronic diseases, and, in recent scenarios, the analysis of the impact of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. The director of the Center for Research in Evaluation and Surveys (CIEE) of INSP, Teresa Shamah Levy, highlighted that the Biobank will allow for the conservation and analysis of samples obtained from national surveys, making it possible to generate key indicators in different population groups. From the perspective of the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (SECIHTI), the Undersecretary of Science and Technology, Violeta Vázquez-Rojas Maldonado, stated that INSP concentrates one of the most relevant biological collections in Mexico, representing a crucial scientific input for generating evidence in public health. With the Biobank now operational, INSP strengthens its scientific capabilities and consolidates its role as a strategic institution aimed at producing high-impact research that improves decision-making and contributes to the well-being of the Mexican population.
Mexico Opens National Biobank to Advance Health Research and Policy
Mexico's National Public Health Institute has unveiled a state-of-the-art national biobank. This new facility is designed to boost scientific research, support evidence-based public health policies, and advance crucial national health initiatives.
