Ethical Challenges of Biobanks and Pathology Research in Egypt

Background: Biobanking today plays a key tool in biomedical research. Establishment and proper
running of biobanks in developing countries is confronted with a number of challenges of legal, ethical,
and financial nature. Considering that there are no guidelines or regulations to control biobanking in
Egypt; major ethical issues arise and are often managed by research ethics committees (RECs).
Pathologists are the custodians of tissue samples in different universities and hospitals; they have an
important role in advancement of scientific research. So, they have to equip themselves adequately to
manage the evolution of pathology work towards integration of biomarker analysis in clinical research
and to deal with the ethical and legal issues of biobanks in Egypt.
Objective/Aim: The purpose of this review is to highlight the current situation of human tissue
research and biobanking in Egypt with Comparative policy of other countries. We will address the role
of pathologists and the difficulties and challenges facing the process of initiating biobanks and give
some recommendations that might help different stakeholders for establishing biobanks in Egypt.
Conclusion: Egypt is one of the developing countries which are in need to implement biobanks to
improve the quality of research. The review highlights the different challenges facing biobanks in
Egypt, mainly: lack of legislations, consent form, public trust, tissue transfer and commercialization. It
also discuss the role of pathologists and research ethics committees in establishing and maintaining
the work in these biobanks; and to make every effort for the interests of the participants, community
and scientific progress, hopefully for good future of biomedical research in Egypt.