“The interest of companies in biobanks has significantly increased but investments have not yet been realised”

BioBank Japan, a hospital-based multi-institutional biobank that has collected DNA, serum and medical record information from ~260,000 patients affected by one of 51 pre-defined diseases, is now launching a new phase to accelerate precision medicine and health in Japan. In an address on May 24 in Tokyo, Professor Yoichiro Kamatani, a member of the Steering Committee at BioBank Japan, presented the new phase and future direction of this important biobank for the future health of Japan. In an interaction with BioSpectrum Asia, Prof. Kamatani reveals more details about the work being done at BioBank Japan.