Bioinformatics in Mexico: A diagnostic from the academic perspective and recommendations for a public policy (original) (raw)
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Biobanking presents significant governance challenges. This is especially evident in Mexico, where the legal framework has not kept up with significant industry expansion. Twenty years ago, Europe was in a similar position. More recently, Europe has developed a comprehensive framework for addressing biobank expansion within ever-growing scientific and biomedical research communities. Based on this experience, we can draw many lessons, including those involving the implementation of laws, procedures and stakeholders' consensus to ethically maximize the potential of samples. Mexican biobanking raises many issues, requiring solutions that are sensitive to its own particular needs. This article analyses the flaws of current biobanking regulations in Mexico by drawing comparisons with Europe. It pays special attention to informed consent; sample/data sharing systems; ethical tissue treatment and classification; governance models; best practices and the role of ethics committees. It argues that several European provisions regarding data protection and sharing can serve as guidelines for international research collaboration currently taking place between Mexico and Europe. resuMen. Los biobancos presentan grandes retos de reglamentación. Lo anterior es evidente en México, donde la legislación no se encuentra a la par de la creciente expansión de los biobancos. Hace veinte años, Europa se encontraba en la misma situación, pero actualmente ha desarrollado instrumentos capaces de atender tal expansión en el marco del aumento de investigación científica y biomédica. Parece haber numerosas lecciones por aprender de Europa: la materialización de leyes, procedimientos específicos y el consenso de actores para maximizar el potencial de muestras biológicas éticamente. Los biobancos mexicanos implican problemas particulares y cualquier propuesta debe responder a
Briefings in Bioinformatics, 2013
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Bioinformatics in the Netherlands: the value of a nationwide community
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This review provides a historical overview of the inception and development of bioinformatics research in the Netherlands. Rooted in theoretical biology by foundational figures such as Paulien Hogeweg (at Utrecht University since the 1970s), the developments leading to organizational structures supporting a relatively large Dutch bioinformatics community will be reviewed. We will show that the most valuable resource that we have built over these years is the close-knit national expert community that is well engaged in basic and translational life science research programmes. The Dutch bioinformatics community is accustomed to facing the ever-changing landscape of data challenges and working towards solutions together. In addition, this community is the stable factor on the road towards sustainability, especially in times where existing funding models are challenged and change rapidly.
Bioinformatic Software Developments in Spain
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2012
The Spanish National Bioinformatics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Bioinformática in Spanish, or short INB) is an academic service institution founded in 2003 by the mayor research groups in Spain at that time. The INB serves in the coordination, integration and development of Spanish Bioinformatics Resources in projects in the areas of genomics, proteomics and translational medicine. Its mission is to consolidate Bioinformatics as a scientific discipline, providing technical support in Bioinformatics to laboratories, institutions and companies throughout the territory. The JBI2010 conference featured two sessions, "INB Technicians internal session" and "Bioinformatic Software Developments in Spain and beyond", that introduced the state of the art of bioinformatic software developments at the INB and its role at the national and international level. This paper gives a summary of those sessions and presents an overview of the activities and contributions of the INB to the field of bioinformatics.