oa Ethical Guidelines for the Use of Biological Samples in Human Research

Human biological materials have been, and continue to be, invaluable resources for a wide variety of research activities. Researchers and clinical investigators relay on the availability of stored human biological materials as well as the willingness of individuals to participate in research protocols by donating blood, tissue, or DNA samples to research. This ongoing process raises a number of ethical issues. This necessitates a distinct policy to facilitate proper management of these activities. The Research Department at Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has developed a policy on the use of stored data and biological samples in human research. Dr Eman Sadoun will present the SCH policy guidelines. The guidelines provided in the policy are intended to promote the goals of improving health through biomedical and environmental research while protecting the rights and welfare of those individuals who contribute to human knowledge through the donation of their biological materials. Such guidelines, while seeking to protect patient confidentiality and autonomy, are also developed to ensure that appropriate access for legitimate research purposes is maintained.