Biobanks for human medical research and application. Summary

The scientific significance and potential medical benefits of biobanks - i.e. scientific collections of human bodily substances, genetic and other personal information - form a focal point of biomedical and bioethical discourse. It has become clear that the use of human biomaterials for research purposes offers considerable potential, but is not free of problems. One essential question is whether the existing legal framework is sufficient to ensure the protection of the stored highly personal data and at the same time their appropriate use. This book is the first to comprehensively describe the enormous diversity of biobanks in Germany and abroad. The authors analyse the legal situation, research practice and the related discourses. In addition, they discuss social and political options for action on how the potential of the research and economic field of biobanks can be developed in a quality-assured, controlled, medically and economically beneficial manner and how Germany can be strengthened as a research location in this field.