Challenges for the Sustainability of University-Run Biobanks

Biopreservation and Biobanking, Vol. 16, No. 4

Posted: 31 Oct 2018

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 1, 2018

Abstract

Most university biobanks begin like other university research projects, that is, with an idea conceived by an individual researcher in pursuit of his/her own research interests, publications, funding, and career. Some biobanks, however, come to have scientific value that goes beyond the projects that were initially responsible for the collection of the samples and data they contain. Such value may derive from among other things the uniqueness of the samples in terms of their sheer volume, the quality of the samples, the ability to link the samples with information retrieved in disease registries, or the fact that the samples represent very rare diseases. This article focuses on biobanks of this kind, and the special obligations that publicly funded universities have to ensure the sustainability of biobanks with continued scientific value. We argue that universities should adopt policies to deal with the various, diverse issues which may arise during the lifecycle of a biobank. The policies should be flexible, accommodate the freedoms of individual researchers, and reflect the multifaceted nature of biobanks. Yet they should be specific enough to provide guidance and robust enough to safeguard legal norms and ethical values. The article sets out concrete recommendations which universities should consider and act upon.

Keywords: intellectual property, biomedical data, biobank, public research

JEL Classification: K10

Suggested Citation

Kongsholm, Nana Cecilie Halmsted and Neethu, Rajam, Challenges for the Sustainability of University-Run Biobanks (August 1, 2018). Biopreservation and Biobanking, Vol. 16, No. 4 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3262601

Nana Cecilie Halmsted Kongsholm (Contact Author)

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, København DK-1165
Denmark

Rajam Neethu

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, København DK-1165
Denmark

HOME PAGE: http://https://twitter.com/JurRajam_N

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