Biobanking and Project Management

Objectives: the growth of standardization parallels and correlates with the architectural complexity of biobanks governance and organization. The management of such complexity, from which varied scenarios originate, requires precise working methodologies. This article highlights the nature of next-generation biobanks and summarizes the concepts supporting the project management scaffolding. Methods: the methodology used to collect the data necessary to produce the working paper is a narrative and meta-synthesis review of the literature inherent in the areas of quality, economics and social engagement of biobanks and the latest project management methodologies. Results: new generation biobanks possess a multipurpose structure mainly based onthe three macro areas of “Quality Management”, “Business Management” and “Social Engagement Management” necessary to ensure their sustainability, i.e., their own life cycle. Conclusions: Project Management, through its conceptual scaffolding and the models it offers, can be the most appropriate tool for managing complexity that characterizes the structure of biobanks, by allowing an organized, structured and integrated approach, both for pursuing the implementation of the process of regulatory standards and for managing the macro-areas of each biobank with related processes, phases, sub-processes, sub-phases and activities.