The International Symposium on Cohort-based Biobanks, cohosted by Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response and the Office of International Cooperation, was held September 25 in Beijing. The symposium gathered over a hundred scientists and technical experts from UK Biobank (UKB), Asian Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (ABCCG), Biobank Japan (BBJ), and China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB).

　　Witnessed by Academician Shen Hongbing of China CDC, Deputy Director-General Gu Jinhui of Science, Technology and Education at National Health Commission, and Vice President Xiao Yuan of Peking University Health Science Center, the participants representing dozens of cohort studies worldwide launched Consensus on Global Scientific Collaboration of Biobanks and Cohorts. The consensus recalled the role played by large cohort studies in the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as in the R&D of drugs, and expressed strong commitment to a win-win model of collaboration with bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for data sharing.

　　The launching ceremony was followed by academic sessions focusing on application of bioinformatics and big data in large-scale cohorts, where speakers approached this issue from their respective experiences.

　　Written by: Fan Xiaofei

　　Edited by: Liu Xin

　　Source: Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response