Op-Ed: Governing genetic databases – collection, storage and use

June 27, 2007

Human genetics research is undergoing rapid and dramatic growth. Over recent years, human genetic databases, or ‘biobanks’, have burgeoned in number, size and sophistication. Many countries are developing population-scale collections, such as UK Biobank, to investigate complex common diseases. Meanwhile, both biomedical researchers and criminal forensic scientists are seeking greater collaboration, including through multinational networking and interlinking of datasets. (BioNews)