Stem Cell Banking: Between Traceability and Identifiability

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SELECTBIO

Stem cell (SC) banks are increasingly seen as an essential resource of biological materials for both basic and translational research. SC banks support transnational access to quality-controlled and ethically sourced SC lines from different origins and of varying grades. According to the OECD, advances in regenerative medicine are leading to the development of a bioeconomy, “a world where biotechnology contributes to a significant share of economic output”. Consequently, SC banks are destined to constitute a pillar of the bioeconomies of many countries. While certain ethical and legal concerns are specific to the nature of SCs, SC banking could do well to examine the approaches fostered by tissue banking generally. Indeed, the last decade has seen a move to simplify and harmonize biological tissue and data banking so as to foster international interoperability. In particular, the issues of consent and of traceability illustrate not only commonalities but the opportunity for SC banking to appreciate the lessons learned in biobanking generally. This presentation will focus on the results of the International Stem Cell Banking Initiative’s survey on the governance frameworks of national SC banks in 14 jurisdictions. To that end, convergence and divergence in issues surrounding policy harmonization, transnational sharing, informed consent, traceability, among other timely issues will be explored.