1
|
Aarden E. Infrastructuring European scientific integration: Heterogeneous meanings of the European biobanking infrastructure BBMRI-ERIC. SOCIAL STUDIES OF SCIENCE 2023; 53:572-598. [PMID: 37306097 PMCID: PMC10363945 DOI: 10.1177/03063127231162629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
While transnational research infrastructure projects long preceded the formal integration process that created the European Union, their advancement is an increasingly central part of EU research policy and of European integration in general. This paper analyses the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure-European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC) as a recent example of institutionalized scientific collaboration in Europe that has formally been established as part of EU science policy. BBMRI-ERIC, a network of European biobanks, is expected to contribute to both European science and European integration. Yet its achievements in these domains are interpreted differently by various actors involved. This paper draws on STS conceptualizations of infrastructures as relational, experimental, and promissory assemblages. These support the formulation of a working definition of research infrastructures that in turn helps to explore the heterogeneous meanings attributed to BBMRI-ERIC. The paper describes the creation of this distributed European research infrastructure, and divergent understandings of what it means for BBMRI-ERIC to be distributed, to be European and to be a research infrastructure. This analysis demonstrates how building a research infrastructure is also an effort to define what it means to be European-a process in which what is European about science and what science can do for Europe is continuously (re-)imagined, contested and negotiated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erik Aarden
- University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wichmann HE. Epidemiology in Germany-general development and personal experience. Eur J Epidemiol 2017; 32:635-656. [PMID: 28815360 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-017-0290-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Did you ever hear about epidemiology in Germany? Starting from an epidemiological desert the discipline has grown remarkably, especially during the last 10-15 years: research institutes have been established, research funding has improved, multiple curriculae in Epidemiology and Public Health are offered. This increase has been quite steep, and now the epidemiological infrastructure is much better. Several medium-sized and even big population cohorts are ongoing, and the number and quality of publications from German epidemiologists has reached a respectable level. My own career in epidemiology started in the field of environmental health. After German reunification I concentrated for many years on environmental problems in East Germany and observed the health benefits after improvement of the situation. Later, I concentrated on population-based cohorts in newborns (GINI/LISA) and adults (KORA, German National Cohort), and on biobanking. This Essay describes the development in Germany after worldwar 2, illustrated by examples of research results and build-up of epidemiological infractructures worth mentioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heinz-Erich Wichmann
- Institute of Epidemiology, 2, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Chair of Epidemiology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brandizi M, Melnichuk O, Bild R, Kohlmayer F, Rodriguez-Castro B, Spengler H, Kuhn KA, Kuchinke W, Ohmann C, Mustonen T, Linden M, Nyrönen T, Lappalainen I, Brazma A, Sarkans U. Orchestrating differential data access for translational research: a pilot implementation. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2017; 17:30. [PMID: 28330491 PMCID: PMC5363029 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-017-0424-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Translational researchers need robust IT solutions to access a range of data types, varying from public data sets to pseudonymised patient information with restricted access, provided on a case by case basis. The reason for this complication is that managing access policies to sensitive human data must consider issues of data confidentiality, identifiability, extent of consent, and data usage agreements. All these ethical, social and legal aspects must be incorporated into a differential management of restricted access to sensitive data. Methods In this paper we present a pilot system that uses several common open source software components in a novel combination to coordinate access to heterogeneous biomedical data repositories containing open data (open access) as well as sensitive data (restricted access) in the domain of biobanking and biosample research. Our approach is based on a digital identity federation and software to manage resource access entitlements. Results Open source software components were assembled and configured in such a way that they allow for different ways of restricted access according to the protection needs of the data. We have tested the resulting pilot infrastructure and assessed its performance, feasibility and reproducibility. Conclusions Common open source software components are sufficient to allow for the creation of a secure system for differential access to sensitive data. The implementation of this system is exemplary for researchers facing similar requirements for restricted access data. Here we report experience and lessons learnt of our pilot implementation, which may be useful for similar use cases. Furthermore, we discuss possible extensions for more complex scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Brandizi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Olga Melnichuk
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Raffael Bild
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University Medical Center rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Kohlmayer
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University Medical Center rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benedicto Rodriguez-Castro
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University Medical Center rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Spengler
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University Medical Center rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus A Kuhn
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University Medical Center rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kuchinke
- Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Ohmann
- European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN), Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Alvis Brazma
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Ugis Sarkans
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|