The Laboratory of Medical Microbiology is proud to be featured as a biobank success story within the European vaccine research initiative VACCELERATE. The story, published by BBMRI.be, highlights the key contribution of the LMM team to building and managing a high-quality biobank that supports large-scale vaccine research across Europe.

Accelerating vaccine research in Europe

VACCELERATE is a pan-European clinical research network funded under the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union. The initiative was established to accelerate vaccine trials and strengthen Europe’s preparedness for future pandemics by connecting clinical trial sites, research teams, and harmonised protocols across countries.

Within this network, LMM and the Antwerp Biobank at the University Hospital Antwerp (UZA) played a central role in developing and implementing laboratory procedures that ensured the consistent collection and processing of samples across participating trial sites.

Building a high-quality European biobank

A core component of LMM’s contribution involved the preparation of detailed laboratory manuals and the design of standardised sampling kits for multiple VACCELERATE clinical trials. These trials included the studies EU-COVAT-1-AGED, EU-COVAT-2-BOOSTAVAC, and the paediatric CoVacc protocol.

By harmonising sample collection materials, processing procedures, and storage conditions across sites, the LMM team helped ensure the comparability and long-term usability of samples collected during these studies. Pre-analytical handling procedures were also carefully standardised, including the use of single-use aliquots to avoid freeze–thaw effects and preserve sample quality.

Today, the resulting biobank contains more than 64,000 aliquots derived from volunteers who provided informed consent for future research. These samples include EDTA plasma, serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), saliva, and respiratory samples. Together, they form a valuable resource that continues to support research on vaccine responses and infectious diseases.

Impact beyond the trials

The work carried out within VACCELERATE has already contributed to several scientific publications on vaccine immunogenicity, safety, and booster responses in older adults, with additional studies currently underway (see below). By enabling high-quality sample collection and storage, the LMM biobank infrastructure helps ensure that data generated in clinical trials can be complemented by robust biological analyses.

The success story published by BBMRI highlights how coordinated biobanking efforts can strengthen European research capacity and accelerate the translation of clinical studies into scientific knowledge and public health impact.

-> Read the full success story here: https://www.bbmri.be/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Quote-post-template-4.pdf

Important publications:

·       Immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety to assess booster vaccinations with BNT162b2 or double-dose mRNA-1273 in adults ≥75 years (EU-COVAT-1-AGED)–final report https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971226001013

·       Immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of a second booster with BNT162b2 or full-dose mRNA‑1273 in adults aged ≥75 years https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971224002327?via%3Dihub

·       Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a first booster with BNT162b2 or full-dose mRNA‑1273 in adults aged ≥75 years (EU‑COVAT‑1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X23012136?via%3Dihub

·       Data Interoperability in COVID‑19 Vaccine Trials: Methodological Approach in the VACCELERATE Project https://medinform.jmir.org/2025/1/e65590