UMCG Cohort Symposium 2025 'Building the Foundations of Research'

This year, we focused on the organization of cohorts and bio- and databank collections. For this reason, registration was open for participants associated with a UMCG cohort (principal investigators, researchers, PhD, staff members).

Details

Date: Thursday, 17th April 2025

Time: 13:30 - 17:45

Location: Rode zaal and Onderwijscentrum UMCG 

Programme and registration

The symposium took place in the Rode Zaal and Onderwijscentrum (UMCG) and began with a keynote speech by Dr. Marije Brouwer.

Marije Brouwer is a researcher and bioethicist, whose work focuses on the ethical dimensions of medical practice and research. In her keynote presentation, she will explore the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by biobank and cohort research. Together with the audience, Marije will delve into key topics such as informed consent, the impact of participation on individuals, and the complexities of data-sharing in research.

An overview of the sessions in brief: 

Breakout sessions round 1 | From 14:30 - 15:15

• Panel discussion: Implementing strategies to include and retain cohort participants over time 
• Data harmonisation: The Why and How of harmonizing data across cohorts
• Financial sustainability: Strategies to keep your cohort alive

Breakout sessions round 2 | From 15:45 - 16:30

• Synthethic data: Explore artificially generated datasets that mimic real cohort and biobank data 
• Sample quality: How to ensure high-quality biological samples in your biobank? 
• UMCG cohort data infrastructure: Current state, gaps and future developments 

Cohort pitches  

In the final half-hour of the symposium, there were pitches in the Rode zaal, where cohorts shared a success story or valuable insight they've gained.