Biomarkers are critical tools that underpin precision medicine. However there has been slow progress and frequent failure of biomarker development. The root causes are multifactorial. Here, we focus on the need for fast, efficient, and reliable access to quality biospecimens as a critical area that impacts biomarker development. We discuss the past history of biobanking and the evolution of biobanking processes relevant to the specific area of cancer biomarker development as an example, and describe some solutions that can improve this area, thus potentially accelerating biomarker research.
Keywords: Biobank; biobanking; biomarkers; biospecimen quality.
© The Author(s) 2020.