Goldenberg AJ, Maschke KJ, Joffe S, Botkin JR, Rothwell E, Murray TH, Anderson R, Deming N, Rosenthal BF, Rivera SM. IRB practices and policies regarding the secondary research use of biospecimens.
BMC Med Ethics 2015;
16:32. [PMID:
25953109 PMCID:
PMC4426182 DOI:
10.1186/s12910-015-0020-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
As sharing and secondary research use of biospecimens increases, IRBs and researchers face the challenge of protecting and respecting donors without comprehensive regulations addressing the human subject protection issues posed by biobanking. Variation in IRB biobanking policies about these issues has not been well documented.
METHODS
This paper reports on data from a survey of IRB Administrative Directors from 60 institutions affiliated with the Clinical and Translation Science Awards (CTSAs) about their policies and practices regarding secondary use and sharing of biospecimens. Specifically, IRB ADs were asked about consent for future use of biospecimens, assignment of risk for studies using biobanked specimens, and sharing of biospecimens/data.
RESULTS
Our data indicate that IRBs take varying approaches to protocol review, risk assessment, and data sharing, especially when specimens are not anonymized.
CONCLUSION
Unclear or divergent policies regarding biospecimen research among IRBs may constitute a barrier to advancing genetic studies and to inter-institutional collaboration, given different institutional requirements for human subjects protections.
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