Ethical challenges in biobanking: moving the agenda forward in India.

ABSTRACT

There is no agreement on the typology and definition of biobanks. The present regulations across countries, including India, focus on genomic and genetic databases and DNA and cell line biobanking. It is unclear how the range of the holdings of biological samples in diagnostic and research laboratories fall under these regulatory frameworks. Biobank-related research has become very attractive because of advances in sample storage and data processing, a better understanding of the human genome, and high throughput laboratory assays.