Ethical and Legal Requirements of Transnational Genetic Research

With the advancement of molecular technologies, genetic research has made enormous progress over the last decade. To facilitate genetic research, the collection, the integration, and the exploitation of data are prerequisite. However, genetic data - which provides information not only about the individual person, but also about his/her family, parentage, and ethnic decent - is regarded as both the most valuable and vulnerable data, worthy of protection by any and all means. On the other hand, clinical research makes it necessary to disclose and exchange genetic data. In order to resolve this dilemma, ethical and legal requirements must be observed. To this end, this book provides an in-depth overview of the respective requirements. It examines the European Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and its impact on Trans-European Research Projects and other genetic research networks. The book will appeal to both academics and professionals in various fields including medical law, biotechnology, ethics, and policy making.