BEACON: An Artificial Intelligence–Powered Optimized Biobank Sample Management System Leveraging Real-World Data

Biobanks are indispensable for advancing biomedical research, yet they face challenges in operational inefficiency, underutilization of specimens, and ethical governance. The Biobank Ethical AI Compliance and Optimization Navigator (BEACON) addresses these challenges by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance sample management, optimize workflows, and ensure ethical compliance. BEACON integrates advanced methodologies, including retrieval-augmented generation systems, embedding-based semantic search, and GPT-powered response generation, to provide precise and transparent specimen allocation. Real-world validation through collaboration with the Advancing Sight Network demonstrated BEACON's capability to enhance biobank workflows and foster community trust by offering transparent and explainable AI-driven decisions. BEACON's modular design aligns with International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Best Practices, ensuring scalability and adaptability across diverse biobank infrastructures. This work presents BEACON as a case study to illustrate the transformative potential of AI in addressing operational inefficiencies and promoting equitable, sustainable biobanking operations worldwide.