Ethical navigation of biobanking establishment in Ukraine

Learning from the experience of developing countries

Bibliographic Data

ID21514231
AuthorsOksana Sulaieva (0000-0002-9614-4652, Department of Pathology, Medical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, Ukraine, corresponding author), Oksana Artamonova (Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, Ukraine), О АРТАМОНОВА (Ukrainian Academy of Banking of the National Bank of Ukraine), Oleksandr Dudin (Department of Pathology, Medical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, Ukraine), Rostyslav Semikov (Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, Ukraine), Dmytro Urakov (Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, Ukraine), Yurii Zakharash (Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, Ukraine), Arman Kacharian (Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kiiv, Ukraine), Vasyl Strilka (Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kiiv, Ukraine), Ivan Mykhalchuk (Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, Ukraine), Oleksii Haidamak (Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, Ukraine), Olena Serdyukova (Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, Ukraine), Nazarii Kobyliak (0000-0001-9814-689X, Department of Pathology, Medical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, Ukraine)
Year2026
Volume52
Issue2
Pages113-118
Publication date2026-02-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Medical Ethics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0306-6800 • E-ISSN: 1473-4257
PublisherBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/jme-2023-109129
PMID37945338
OpenAlexW4388540616
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited49

Building a biobank network in developing countries is essential to foster genomic research and precision medicine for patients’ benefit. However, there are serious barriers to establishing biobanks in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Ukraine. Here, we outline key barriers and essential milestones for the successful expansion of biobanks, genomic research and personalised medicine in Ukraine, drawing from the experience of other LMICs. A lack of legal and ethical governance in conjunction with limited awareness about biobanking and community distrust are the principal threats to establishing biobanks. The experiences of LMICs suggest that Ukraine urgently needs national guidelines covering ethical and legal aspects of biospecimen-related research. National guidelines must be consistent with international ethical recommendations for safeguarding participants’ rights, welfare and privacy. Additionally, efforts to educate and engage physicians and patient communities are essential for achieving biobanking goals and benefits for precision medicine and future patients

Biobank · Bioinformatics · Business · Computer security · Distrust · Engineering ethics · Political science · Public relations · Safeguarding · Biomedical Ethics and Regulation · Computer Science · Engineering · Ethics in Clinical Research · Law · Law, AI, and Intellectual Property · Medicine · Nursing

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