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HandsOn: Biobanks

Uppsala Konsert & Kongress
20-21 September 2012, Uppsala, Sweden

Biobanking has become hot, and rather quickly. The technology, the claims and the investments are increasing, but what is the value we are chasing? The route from a human biological sample and registry data to real benefit for patients and public health is complex. Many activities make up this route: funding, ethical review, sample and data collection, storage, bioanalysis and bioinformatics. Each is intended to add value, but how do we make sure we see and increase the benefits?

At this interactive conference we invite you to help understand and improve the activities in these value chains and bring more benefit to humanity. We will use Idea Labs, Hands-On Exhibitions, poster presentations and knowledge sharing to present, discuss and develop ideas for getting the best out of biobanking. We invite academy, industry, doctors, patient groups, policy makers, public representatives and legislators to share knowledge and concerns, and to contribute.

This project aims to enable Wikipedians to cooperate, organize, make suggestions and share ideas on the improvement of the medicine and health-related articles of Wikipedia. Many suggestions and guidelines have been developed since the project began. A particularly useful collection can be found in the Wikipedia:Manual of Style (medicine-related articles), which contains a detailed discussion of issues related to writing medicine articles on Wikipedia.

A report of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ 20th anniversary symposium ‘Global health: responsibility, ethics and policy’ has been published.
At the symposium, which took place on 22 June 2011, speakers from around the globe discussed topics such as ethics and responsibility in global health, non-communicable diseases, the role of emerging biotechnologies in global health, and social determinants of health.
Over 150 people attended the meeting, including clinicians, government officials, and representatives of research funding bodies, charities and pharmaceutical companies, both from the UK and abroad.
Albert Weale, Chair of the Council, summed up the day by highlighting some major themes that had emerged, including medical training and migration, interdependence, responsibility, and ‘health for all’ policies. The symposium will inform the Council as it considers its future work in the field of global health.

Download the report, a video showing highlights of the symposium, the programme, and speaker slides at: www.nuffieldbioethics.org/international/international-global-health-symposium