Sample and data sharing: observations from a central data repository.

•We were funded to develop the NIDDK central Repository.•We describe the design and implementation of this Repository.•We discovered that the design had to be flexible and compliant with data standards.•The operation of a large repository depends on many outside parties.•These different points of view have to be reconciled.•We conjecture that the bio-banking industry will become focused on specific diseases.•Emerging technologies will affect existing repository infrastructures.