Future Unspecified use of Data and Tissue in Biobanking Research

The concept of ownership of human tissue as well as the question of the rights of the tissue source to excised tissue have not been fully developed in law either in Nigeria or England. Recent developments in genomics and biobank research have made this a contemporary discourse. Biobank research is an integral part of the process of developing diagnoses and therapies for complex diseases. They are now a prerequisite for conducting Genome Wide Association Studies(GWAS) that explore connections between genotypes and phenotypes to identify genetic risk factors for diseases. In spite of the growing importance of biobank research and the attendant significance of the role of the tissue source to the development of science, law has not developed clearcut principles that protect the interests of a tissue source who contributes valuable samples and data. The book discusses protecting the tissue source, his entitlement to privacy of his data; as well as his entitlement to choosing when and if he wants his data or samples used in future research. It also proceeds from a supposition that the tissue source should be given a say in the decisions relating to secondary uses of his sample and data.