Ethical Principles for Research Governance of Biobanks

Abstract

Introduction

Biobanks of collected human tissue samples are rapidly expanding and becoming „essential tools in translating biomedical research into real improvements in health care”. Biobanks are rich sources for genetic research. The German National Ethics Council has noted, for example, the potential of biobanks for the identification of causes of disease and for breakthroughs in medical and pharmaceutical research. Unsurprisingly, many pharmaceutical companies operate biobank collections for research purposes and to enrol suitable clinical trial recruits so as to minimise side effects and achieve better results. Biobanks are also essential tools for conducting large-scale epidemiological studies, involving whole populations (with the neologism „epigenetic”). One commentator has noted that biobanks are invariably ”staggeringly expensive”