Experience and Operation of Establishing the Korea Biobank Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic condition driven by complex interactions among genetic, microbial, immunological, and environmental factors that substantially affect patients’ lives and increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Biobanks support IBD research by providing access to human biospecimens and associated data. This study aimed to describe the workflow and infrastructure of the Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH) Biobank, summarize the clinical characteristics of participants and the collection and distribution of biospecimens, and outline future development priorities. Methods: This descriptive report summarizes the collection and distribution activities of the KNUH Biobank from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2025, including biospecimens collected at Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital and incorporated into its collection. Biospecimens and associated clinical and epidemiological data were collected from consenting participants, processed, and stored according to standard operating procedures. Bioresource distribution required formal application and committee approval. Results: The disease-focused collection comprised 1307 participants: 471 with CD (36.0%), 376 with UC (28.8%), 35 with other non-infective gastroenteritis and colitis (2.7%), and 425 with CRC (32.5%). Of these, the mean age at diagnosis was 37.7 years (SD, 23.1), and 849 participants (65.0%) were male. A total of 9577 biospecimen vials were collected from these 1307 participants, excluding the bottom-up collection. Additionally, excluding the bottom-up collection, 2400 vials were distributed through 34 approved applications during the reporting period. Conclusions: This report describes the operational framework and collection and distribution activities of the KNUH Biobank. Future priorities include improving clinical data completeness, establishing systematic longitudinal follow-up, and evaluating resource utilization and operational sustainability.