Kristie Westerlaken

BC Cancer Research Ethics Board (REB) and the Biospecimen and Biobanking Research Services (BBRS) have observed an increased number of ethical issues related to research involving biobanks (collections of human biospecimens and associated data). These include deficiencies in knowledge about biobank governance and structure resulting in an overall lack of standardization leading to concerns in two main categories: legacy and sustainability, and consent. As a first step in addressing these challenges, BC Cancer Research Center has implemented mandatory registration of all new biospecimen collections in the CTRNet Biobank registration program. This program is of value to REBs as it provides an additional degree of oversight re transparent biobank governance and provides assurance that a biobank is aware of national biobanking standards and how to access education, training, and support. Similar approaches are now being taken by other institutions in BC and elsewhere in Canada. In order to address legacy and sustainability concerns, the BC Cancer REB have initiated a process of undertaking consultations with research teams of all currently approved and newly submitted biobanks to ensure they are designed to conform with current and best practice ethical considerations. Finally, the BC Cancer REB and BBRS are developing standardized consent forms, as well as innovative consenting processes such as e-consent, and the use of interactive technology to inform and educate participants. The purpose of the workshop is to share information about the processes the BC Cancer REB and BBRS and are implementing to deal with biobanking challenges and to invite discussion and share experiences in order to ensure Canadian REBs are knowledgeable and skilled in the rapidly changing ethical environment of biobanking.