Chilean Biobanks: A Snapshot of the Current Landscape

Abstract

Latin America hosts extraordinary biological diversity but remains underrepresented in global biomedical research, underscoring the need for robust biobanking infrastructures. This work provides an updated snapshot of Chilean biobanks, based on a national survey exploring their current capacities and challenges. Nine active biobanks were identified across 5 of Chile's 16 regions, the majority concentrated in Santiago. Collectively, they store over 640,000 biospecimens from nearly 49,000 participants, predominantly oncological. While standardized protocols for sample management are broadly implemented by Chilean biobanks, data management practices are not yet well-developed, as only a few centers have adopted internationally recognized standards. Governance structures vary considerably and often lack formal written documentation. Financial sustainability relies mainly on institutional support, competitive grants, and modest cost recovery. Although Chilean biobanks contribute to research and training, measuring productivity remains challenging due to underreported acknowledgments and limited post-transfer traceability. Overall, our analysis suggests a bottom-up development of Chilean biobanks in the absence of dedicated legislation or strategic governmental policies. This overview shows that Chile's biobanks hold considerable potential for strengthening translational research and health equity, particularly if further support enables expansion into underrepresented regions. By integrating these infrastructures into higher education, clinical care, and broader regional collaborations, biobanks can help leverage Chilean genetic diversity and address health disparities. With greater governmental prioritization, a cohesive regulatory framework, and collaboration as a key strength, biobanks could enhance interaction with global networks and further strengthen Latin America's overall contribution to biomedical innovation.

Keywords: Chilean biobanks; Latin America; biobank management; biobank standardization; descriptive study; interoperability.