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Akyüz K, Goisauf M, Martin GM, Mayrhofer MT, Antoniou S, Charalambidou G, Deltas C, Malatras A, Papagregoriou G, Stefanou C, Voutounou M. Risk mapping for better governance in biobanking: the case of biobank.cy. Front Genet 2024; 15:1397156. [PMID: 38948356 PMCID: PMC11211562 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1397156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Risk governance is central for the successful and ethical operation of biobanks and the continued social license for being custodians of samples and data. Risks in biobanking are often framed as risks for participants, whereas the biobank's risks are often considered as technical ones. Risk governance relies on identifying, assessing, mitigating and communicating all risks based on technical and standardized procedures. However, within such processes, biobank staff are often involved tangentially. In this study, the aim has been to conduct a risk mapping exercise bringing biobank staff as key actors into the process, making better sense of emerging structure of biobanks. Methods: Based on the qualitative research method of situational analysis as well as the card-based discussion and stakeholder engagement processes, risk mapping was conducted at the biobank setting as an interactive engagement exercise. The analyzed material comprises mainly of moderated group discussions. Results: The findings from the risk mapping activity are framed through an organismic metaphor: the biobank as a growing, living organism in a changing environment, where trust and sustainability are cross-cutting elements in making sense of the risks. Focusing on the situatedness of the dynamics within biobanking activity highlights the importance of prioritizing relations at the core of risk governance and promoting ethicality in the biobanking process by expanding the repertoire of considered risks. Conclusion: With the organismic metaphor, the research brings the diverse group of biobank staff to the central stage for risk governance, highlighting how accounting for such diversity and interdependencies at the biobank setting is a prerequisite for an adaptive risk governance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaya Akyüz
- Department of ELSI Services and Research, BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
| | - Melanie Goisauf
- Department of ELSI Services and Research, BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Stella Antoniou
- Biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Georgia Charalambidou
- Biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Constantinos Deltas
- Biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research, Nicosia, Cyprus
- University of Cyprus Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Apostolos Malatras
- Biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Gregory Papagregoriou
- Biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Charalambos Stefanou
- Biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Mariel Voutounou
- Biobank.cy Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Vaz M, Warrier P, Wai-Loon Ho C, Bull S. Respecting values and perspectives in biobanking and genetic research governance: Outcomes of a qualitative study in Bengaluru, India. Wellcome Open Res 2023; 7:78. [PMID: 37485294 PMCID: PMC10357076 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17628.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The promise of biobanking and genetic research (BGR) in the context of translational research towards improving public health and personalised medicine has been recognised in India. Worldwide experience has shown that incorporating stakeholders' expectations and values into the governance of BGR is essential to address ethical aspects of BGR. This paper draws on engagement with various stakeholders in the South Indian city of Bengaluru to understand how incorporating people's values and beliefs can inform policy making decisions and strengthen BGR governance within India. Methods: We adopted a qualitative research approach and conducted six focus group discussions with civil society members and seven in-depth interviews with key informants in BGR, identified through a targeted web search and snowballing methods, until data saturation was reached. Data were thematically analysed to identify emergent patterns. Results: Specific themes relating to the ethics and governance of BGR emerged. Fears and uncertainty about future sample and data use, possibilities of discrimination and exploitation in the use of findings and the lack of comprehensive data protection policies in India along with expectations of enhanced contributor agency, control in future use of samples and data, benefit sharing, enhanced utility of samples, sustained BGR and public good, reflected tensions between different stakeholders' values and beliefs. Fair governance processes through an independent governance committee for biobanks and a system of ongoing engagement with stakeholders emerged as best practice towards building trust and respecting diversity of views and values. Conclusions: Ensuring public trust in BGR requires listening to stakeholders' voices, being open to counter narratives, and a commitment to long term engagement embedded in principles of participatory democracy. This is central to a 'people-centred governance framework' involving a negotiated middle ground and an equilibrium of governance which promotes social justice by being inclusive, transparent, equitable, and trustworthy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjulika Vaz
- Health and Humanities, St John's Research Institute, St John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560 034, India
| | - Prasanna Warrier
- Health and Humanities, St John's Research Institute, St John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560 034, India
| | - Calvin Wai-Loon Ho
- Department of Law and Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Susan Bull
- Ethox Centre and Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
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Goisauf M, Cano Abadía M. Ethics of AI in Radiology: A Review of Ethical and Societal Implications. Front Big Data 2022; 5:850383. [PMID: 35910490 PMCID: PMC9329694 DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2022.850383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied in medicine to improve healthcare and advance health equity. The application of AI-based technologies in radiology is expected to improve diagnostic performance by increasing accuracy and simplifying personalized decision-making. While this technology has the potential to improve health services, many ethical and societal implications need to be carefully considered to avoid harmful consequences for individuals and groups, especially for the most vulnerable populations. Therefore, several questions are raised, including (1) what types of ethical issues are raised by the use of AI in medicine and biomedical research, and (2) how are these issues being tackled in radiology, especially in the case of breast cancer? To answer these questions, a systematic review of the academic literature was conducted. Searches were performed in five electronic databases to identify peer-reviewed articles published since 2017 on the topic of the ethics of AI in radiology. The review results show that the discourse has mainly addressed expectations and challenges associated with medical AI, and in particular bias and black box issues, and that various guiding principles have been suggested to ensure ethical AI. We found that several ethical and societal implications of AI use remain underexplored, and more attention needs to be paid to addressing potential discriminatory effects and injustices. We conclude with a critical reflection on these issues and the identified gaps in the discourse from a philosophical and STS perspective, underlining the need to integrate a social science perspective in AI developments in radiology in the future.
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Nwebonyi N, Silva S, de Freitas C. Public Views About Involvement in Decision-Making on Health Data Sharing, Access, Use and Reuse: The Importance of Trust in Science and Other Institutions. Front Public Health 2022; 10:852971. [PMID: 35619806 PMCID: PMC9127133 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.852971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Data-intensive and needs-driven research can deliver substantial health benefits. However, concerns with privacy loss, undisclosed surveillance, and discrimination are on the rise due to mounting data breaches. This can undermine the trustworthiness of data processing institutions and reduce people's willingness to share their data. Involving the public in health data governance can help to address this problem by imbuing data processing frameworks with societal values. This study assesses public views about involvement in individual-level decisions concerned with health data and their association with trust in science and other institutions. Methods Cross-sectional study with 162 patients and 489 informal carers followed at two reference centers for rare diseases in an academic hospital in Portugal (June 2019–March 2020). Participants rated the importance of involvement in decision-making concerning health data sharing, access, use, and reuse from “not important” to “very important”. Its association with sociodemographic characteristics, interpersonal trust, trust in national and international institutions, and the importance of trust in research teams and host institutions was tested. Results Most participants perceived involvement in decision-making about data sharing (85.1%), access (87.1%), use (85%) and reuse (79.9%) to be important or very important. Participants who ascribed a high degree of importance to trust in research host institutions were significantly more likely to value involvement in such decisions. A similar position was expressed by participants who valued trust in research teams for data sharing, access, and use. Participants with low levels of trust in national and international institutions and with lower levels of education attributed less importance to being involved in decisions about data use. Conclusion The high value attributed by participants to involvement in individual-level data governance stresses the need to broaden opportunities for public participation in health data decision-making, namely by introducing a meta consent approach. The important role played by trust in science and in other institutions in shaping participants' views about involvement highlights the relevance of pairing such a meta consent approach with the provision of transparent information about the implications of data sharing, the resources needed to make informed choices and the development of harm mitigation tools and redress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngozi Nwebonyi
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Susana Silva
- Departamento de Sociologia, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal.,Centro em Rede de Investigação em Antropologia, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia de Freitas
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal.,EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology, University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon, Portugal
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5
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Vaz M, Warrier P, Wai-Loon Ho C, Bull S. Respecting values and perspectives in biobanking and genetic research governance: Outcomes of a qualitative study in Bengaluru, India. Wellcome Open Res 2022. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17628.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The promise of biobanking and genetic research (BGR) in the context of translational research towards improving public health and personalised medicine has been recognised in India. Worldwide experience has shown that incorporating stakeholders’ expectations and values into the governance of BGR is essential to address ethical aspects of BGR. This paper draws on engagement with various stakeholders in the South Indian city of Bengaluru to understand how incorporating people’s values and beliefs can inform policy making decisions and strengthen BGR governance within India. Methods: We adopted a qualitative research approach and conducted six focus group discussions with civil society members and seven in-depth interviews with key informants in BGR, identified through a targeted web search and snowballing methods, until data saturation was reached. Data were thematically analysed to identify emergent patterns. Results: Specific themes relating to the ethics and governance of BGR emerged. Fears and uncertainty about future sample and data use, possibilities of discrimination and exploitation in the use of findings and the lack of comprehensive data protection policies in India along with expectations of enhanced contributor agency, control in future use of samples and data, benefit sharing, enhanced utility of samples, sustained BGR and public good, reflected tensions between different stakeholders’ values and beliefs. Fair governance processes through an independent governance committee for biobanks and a system of ongoing engagement with stakeholders emerged as best practice towards building trust and respecting diversity of views and values. Conclusions: Ensuring public trust in BGR requires listening to stakeholders’ voices, being open to counter narratives, and a commitment to long term engagement embedded in principles of participatory democracy. This is central to a ‘people-centred governance framework’ involving a negotiated middle ground and an equilibrium of governance which promotes social justice by being inclusive, transparent, equitable, and trustworthy.
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6
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Akyüz K, Chassang G, Goisauf M, Kozera Ł, Mezinska S, Tzortzatou O, Mayrhofer MT. Biobanking and risk assessment: a comprehensive typology of risks for an adaptive risk governance. LIFE SCIENCES, SOCIETY AND POLICY 2021; 17:10. [PMID: 34903285 PMCID: PMC8666836 DOI: 10.1186/s40504-021-00117-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Biobanks act as the custodians for the access to and responsible use of human biological samples and related data that have been generously donated by individuals to serve the public interest and scientific advances in the health research realm. Risk assessment has become a daily practice for biobanks and has been discussed from different perspectives. This paper aims to provide a literature review on risk assessment in order to put together a comprehensive typology of diverse risks biobanks could potentially face. Methodologically set as a typology, the conceptual approach used in this paper is based on the interdisciplinary analysis of scientific literature, the relevant ethical and legal instruments and practices in biobanking to identify how risks are assessed, considered and mitigated. Through an interdisciplinary mapping exercise, we have produced a typology of potential risks in biobanking, taking into consideration the perspectives of different stakeholders, such as institutional actors and publics, including participants and representative organizations. With this approach, we have identified the following risk types: economic, infrastructural, institutional, research community risks and participant's risks. The paper concludes by highlighting the necessity of an adaptive risk governance as an integral part of good governance in biobanking. In this regard, it contributes to sustainability in biobanking by assisting in the design of relevant risk management practices, where they are not already in place or require an update. The typology is intended to be useful from the early stages of establishing such a complex and multileveled biomedical infrastructure as well as to provide a catalogue of risks for improving the risk management practices already in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaya Akyüz
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria.
- Department of Science and Technology Studies, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Gauthier Chassang
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
- CERPOP, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Melanie Goisauf
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
- Department of Science and Technology Studies, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Signe Mezinska
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Olga Tzortzatou
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Barbosa S, Pare Toe L, Thizy D, Vaz M, Carter L. Engagement and social acceptance in genome editing for human benefit: Reflections on research and practice in a global context. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 5:244. [PMID: 34095505 PMCID: PMC8142603 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16260.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
While there are both practical and ethical reasons for public engagement in science and innovation, real-world detailed examples of engagement practice and the lessons to come from these are still hard to find. This paper showcases three contextually diverse case studies of engagement practice. Case 1 recounts the experiences of a government-funded initiative to involve scientists and policy makers as science communicators for the purpose of engaging the Argentine public on gene editing. Case 2 describes the research methodologies used to elicit diverse stakeholder views in the face of political uncertainty and institutional distrust in India. Finally, case 3 unpacks the tensions and gaps with existing international guidelines for ensuring local voices are respected in community decision-making in Burkina Faso. Each case shares its own compelling rationale for selecting the engagement method chosen and details the challenges encountered along the way. Each case shares its vision for creating legitimate opportunities for broader societal involvement in the planning, conduct and delivery of responsible science. These cases demonstrate the nuances, sensitivities and challenges of engaging with publics and broader stakeholders in discussions about genome editing for human benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Barbosa
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lea Pare Toe
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Manjulika Vaz
- St John’s Research Institute, St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India
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Ochieng CA, Minion JT, Turner A, Blell M, Murtagh MJ. What does engagement mean to participants in longitudinal cohort studies? A qualitative study. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:77. [PMID: 34167521 PMCID: PMC8223352 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00648-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Engagement is important within cohort studies for a number of reasons. It is argued that engaging participants within the studies they are involved in may promote their recruitment and retention within the studies. Participant input can also improve study designs, make them more acceptable for uptake by participants and aid in contextualising research communication to participants. Ultimately it is also argued that engagement needs to provide an avenue for participants to feedback to the cohort study and that this is an ethical imperative. This study sought to explore the participants' experiences and thoughts of their engagement with their birth cohort study. METHODS Participants were recruited from the Children of the 90s (CO90s) study. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 42 participants. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and uploaded onto Nvivo software. They were then analysed via thematic analysis with a constant comparison technique. RESULTS Participants' experiences of their engagement with CO90s were broadly based on three aspects: communication they received from CO90s, experiences of ethical conduct from CO90s and receiving rewards from CO90s. The communication received from CO90s, ranged from newsletters explaining study findings and future studies, to more personal forms like annual greeting cards posted to each participant. Ethical conduct from CO90s mainly involved participants understanding that CO90s would keep their information confidential, that it was only involved in 'good' ethical research and their expectation that CO90s would always prioritise participant welfare. Some of the gifts participants said they received at CO90s included toys, shopping vouchers, results from clinical tests, and time off from school to attend data collection (Focus) days. Participants also described a temporality in their engagement with CO90s and the subsequent trust they had developed for the cohort study. CONCLUSION The experiences of engagement described by participants were theorized as being based on reciprocity which was sometimes overt and other times more nuanced. We further provide empirical evidence of participants' expectation for a reciprocal interaction with their cohort study while highlighting the trust that such an interaction fosters. Our study therefore provides key insights for other cohort studies on what participants value in their interactions with their cohort studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A. Ochieng
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
| | - Joel T. Minion
- Qualitative Research Lead, Health Technology Assessment Unit, Department of Community Health Sciences, O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6 Canada
| | - Andrew Turner
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, 9th Floor, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT UK
| | - Mwenza Blell
- School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, 18-20 Windsor Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HE UK
| | - Madeleine J. Murtagh
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Adam Smith Building, Bute Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RT UK
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Rychnovská D. Anticipatory Governance in Biobanking: Security and Risk Management in Digital Health. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2021; 27:30. [PMID: 33881646 PMCID: PMC8058749 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-021-00305-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although big-data research has met with multiple controversies in diverse fields, political and security implications of big data in life sciences have received less attention. This paper explores how threats and risks are anticipated and acted on in biobanking, which builds research repositories for biomedical samples and data. Focusing on the biggest harmonisation cluster of biomedical research in Europe, BBMRI-ERIC, the paper analyses different logics of risk in the anticipatory discourse on biobanking. Based on document analysis, interviews with ELSI experts, and field research, three types of framing of risk are reconstructed: data security, privacy, and data misuse. The paper finds that these logics downplay the broader social and political context and reflects on the limits of the practices of anticipatory governance in biobanking. It argues that this regime of governance can make it difficult for biobanks to address possible future challenges, such as access to biomedical data by authorities, pressures for integrating biobank data with other type of personal data, or their use for profiling beyond medical purposes. To address potential controversies and societal implications related to the use of big data in health research and medicine, the paper suggests to expand the vocabulary and practices of anticipatory governance, in the biobanking community and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Rychnovská
- Department of International Relations, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
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10
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Warrier P, Ho CWL, Bull S, Vaz M, Vaz M. Engaging publics in biobanking and genetic research governance - a literature review towards informing practice in India. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:5. [PMID: 38645686 PMCID: PMC11026954 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16558.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: There is growing interest in advancing biobanking and genetic research in many countries, including India. Concurrently, more importance is being placed on participatory approaches involving the public and other stakeholders in addressing ethical issues and policymaking as part of a broader governance approach. We analyse the tools, purposes, outcomes and limitations of engaging people towards biobanking and genetic research governance that have been undertaken worldwide, and explore their relevance to India. Methods: Papers to be reviewed were identified through a targeted literature search carried out using ProQuest and PubMed. Retrieved papers were analysed with the Rpackage for Qualitative Data Analysis using inductive coding and thematic analysis, guided by the Framework Method. Results: Empirical studies on public and community engagement in the context of biobanking and or genetic research show a predominance towards the end of the last decade, spanning 2007 to 2019. Numerous strategies-including public meetings, community durbars, focus group discussions, interviews, deliberations, citizen-expert panels and community advisory boards-have been used to facilitate communication, consultation and collaboration with people, at the level of general and specific publics. Engagement allowed researchers to understand how people's values, opinions and experiences related to the research process; and enabled participants to become partners within the conduct of research. Conclusions: Constructs such as 'co-production', 'engagement of knowledges', 'rules of engagement' and 'stewardship' emerge as significant mechanisms that can address the ethical challenges and the governance of biobanking and genetic research in India. Given the inherent diversity of the Indian population and its varying cultural values and beliefs, there is a need to invest time and research funds for engagement as a continuum of participatory activity, involving communication, consultation and collaboration in relation to biobanking and genetic research. Further research into these findings is required to explore their effective employment within India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna Warrier
- Health and Humanities, St John's Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560034, India
| | - Calvin Wai-Loon Ho
- Faculty of Law and Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Susan Bull
- Ethox Centre and Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Mario Vaz
- Health and Humanities, St John's Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560034, India
| | - Manjulika Vaz
- Health and Humanities, St John's Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560034, India
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Warrier P, Ho CWL, Bull S, Vaz M, Vaz M. Engaging publics in biobanking and genetic research governance - a literature review towards informing practice in India. Wellcome Open Res 2021. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16558.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is growing interest in advancing biobanking and genetic research in many countries, including India. Concurrently, more importance is being placed on participatory approaches involving the public and other stakeholders in addressing ethical issues and policymaking as part of a broader governance approach. We analyse the tools, purposes, outcomes and limitations of engaging people towards biobanking and genetic research governance that have been undertaken worldwide, and explore their relevance to India. Methods: Papers to be reviewed were identified through a targeted literature search carried out using ProQuest and PubMed. Retrieved papers were analysed with the R package for Qualitative Data Analysis using inductive coding and thematic analysis, guided by the Framework Method. Results: Empirical studies on public and community engagement in the context of biobanking and or genetic research show a predominance towards the end of the last decade, spanning 2007 to 2019. Numerous strategies—including public meetings, community durbars, focus group discussions, interviews, deliberations, citizen-expert panels and community advisory boards—have been used to facilitate communication, consultation and collaboration with people, at the level of general and specific publics. Engagement allowed researchers to understand how people’s values, opinions and experiences related to the research process; and enabled participants to become partners within the conduct of research. Conclusions: Constructs such as ‘co-production’, ‘engagement of knowledges’, ‘rules of engagement’ and ‘stewardship’ emerge as significant mechanisms that can address the ethical challenges and the governance of biobanking and genetic research in India. Given the inherent diversity of the Indian population and its varying cultural values and beliefs, there is a need to invest time and research funds for engagement as a continuum of participatory activity, involving communication, consultation and collaboration in relation to biobanking and genetic research. Further research into these findings is required to explore their effective employment within India
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Ursin L, Ytterhus B, Christensen E, Skolbekken JA. «If you give them your little finger, they'll tear off your entire arm»: losing trust in biobank research. MEDICINE, HEALTH CARE, AND PHILOSOPHY 2020; 23:565-576. [PMID: 32734531 PMCID: PMC7538395 DOI: 10.1007/s11019-020-09969-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Why do some people withdraw from biobank studies? To our knowledge, very few studies have been done on the reflections of biobank ex-participants. In this article, we report from such a study. 16 years ago, we did focus group interviews with biobank participants and ex-participants. We found that the two groups interestingly shared worries concerning the risks involved in possible novel uses of their biobank material, even though they drew opposite conclusions from their worries. Revisiting these interviews today reveals a remarkable relevance to present concerns, since the possible developments that worried ex-participants and participants 16 years ago now are becoming realities. Drawing on conceptual distinctions by sociologist and philosopher Niklas Luhmann, we argue that while ex-participants express a loss of trust in the biobank institution to manage the use of their biobank material in a legitimate way, remaining participants expressed confidence in the management of the biobank institution to secure their interests. This analysis brings out important aspects of emerging trends in biobank research participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Ursin
- Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, NTNU, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Borgunn Ytterhus
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
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Barbosa S, Pare Toe L, Thizy D, Vaz M, Carter L. Engagement and social acceptance in genome editing for human benefit: Reflections on research and practice in a global context. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 5:244. [PMID: 34095505 PMCID: PMC8142603 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16260.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
While there are both practical and ethical reasons for public engagement in science and innovation, real-world detailed examples of engagement practice and the lessons to come from these are still hard to find. This paper showcases three contextually diverse case studies of engagement practice. Case 1 recounts the experiences of a government-funded initiative to involve scientists and policy makers as science communicators for the purpose of engaging the Argentine public on gene editing. Case 2 describes the research methodologies used to elicit diverse stakeholder views in the face of political uncertainty and institutional distrust in India. Finally, case 3 unpacks the tensions and gaps with existing international guidelines for ensuring local voices are respected in community decision-making in Burkina Faso. Each case shares its own compelling rationale for selecting the engagement method chosen and details the challenges encountered along the way. Each case shares its vision for creating legitimate opportunities for broader societal involvement in the planning, conduct and delivery of responsible science. These cases demonstrate the nuances, sensitivities and challenges of engaging with publics and broader stakeholders in discussions about genome editing for human benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Barbosa
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lea Pare Toe
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Manjulika Vaz
- St John’s Research Institute, St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India
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Mamo N, Martin GM, Desira M, Ellul B, Ebejer JP. Dwarna: a blockchain solution for dynamic consent in biobanking. Eur J Hum Genet 2020; 28:609-626. [PMID: 31844175 PMCID: PMC7170942 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-019-0560-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamic consent aims to empower research partners and facilitate active participation in the research process. Used within the context of biobanking, it gives individuals access to information and control to determine how and where their biospecimens and data should be used. We present Dwarna-a web portal for 'dynamic consent' that acts as a hub connecting the different stakeholders of the Malta Biobank: biobank managers, researchers, research partners, and the general public. The portal stores research partners' consent in a blockchain to create an immutable audit trail of research partners' consent changes. Dwarna's structure also presents a solution to the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation's right to erasure-a right that is seemingly incompatible with the blockchain model. Dwarna's transparent structure increases trustworthiness in the biobanking process by giving research partners more control over which research studies they participate in, by facilitating the withdrawal of consent and by making it possible to request that the biospecimen and associated data are destroyed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Mamo
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
| | - Gillian M Martin
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
- BBMRI-ERIC, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 2/B/6, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Maria Desira
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
| | - Bridget Ellul
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
| | - Jean-Paul Ebejer
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta.
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Goisauf M, Martin G, Bentzen HB, Budin-Ljøsne I, Ursin L, Durnová A, Leitsalu L, Smith K, Casati S, Lavitrano M, Mascalzoni D, Boeckhout M, Mayrhofer MT. Data in question: A survey of European biobank professionals on ethical, legal and societal challenges of biobank research. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221496. [PMID: 31532777 PMCID: PMC6750647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biobanks have evolved, and their governance procedures have undergone important transformations. Our paper examines this issue by focusing on the perspective of the professionals working in management or scientific roles in research-based biobanks, who have an important impact on shaping these transformations. In particular, it highlights that recent advances in molecular medicine and genomic research have raised a range of ethical, legal and societal implications (ELSI) related to biobank-based research, impacting directly on regulations and local practices of informed consent (IC), private-public partnerships (PPPs), and engagement of participants. In our study, we investigate the ways that these concerns influence biobanking practices and assess the level of satisfaction of the cross-national biobanking research communities with the ELSI related procedures that are currently in place. We conducted an online survey among biobankers and researchers to investigate secondary use of data, informing and/or re-contacting participants, sharing of data with third parties from industry, participant engagement, and collaboration with industrial partners. Findings highlight the need for a more inclusive and transparent biobanking practice where biobanks are seen in a more active role in providing information and communicating with participants; the need to improve the current IC procedures and the role of biobanks in sharing of samples and data with industry partners and different countries, and the need for practical, tangible and hands-on ethical and legal guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gillian Martin
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
- Department of Sociology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Heidi Beate Bentzen
- Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Lars Ursin
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anna Durnová
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
- Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, Austria
| | - Liis Leitsalu
- BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Genomics, Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Katharine Smith
- Centre for Health Policy, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Casati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Milano—Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Deborah Mascalzoni
- Department of Public Health, Center for Research Ethics and Bioethics, University of Uppsala CRB, Uppsala, Sweden
- EURAC Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Martin Boeckhout
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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