Return of Research Results in the Saudi Biobank: An Exploratory Survey.

Abstract

There are many research biobanks in the world, including a small number in the Middle East. The Saudi biobank, one of the newly established biobanks, has just started to collect data and samples in 2016. A survey was conducted to assess the opinions of stakeholders regarding the return of individual research results. A total of 180 adults from three different groups (researchers, physicians, and laypeople) participated in this cross-sectional study. There was strong agreement among all respondents that the biobank has the duty and donors have the right to be provided with important results that may have direct or indirect benefits. Moreover, there was strong support for the view that donors have the right to refuse to receive any research results. These results are compatible with many other studies and are in line with the governance of the Saudi biobank.