Unexpected tissue and the biobank that closed: an exploration of value and the momentariness of bio-objectification processes

Neil Stephens; Rebecca Dimond

doi:10.1186/s40504-015-0032-0

Unexpected tissue and the biobank that closed: an exploration of value and the momentariness of bio-objectification processes

Neil Stephens^*
, Rebecca Dimond

^*Corresponding author for this work

Social Policy and Society

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Unanticipated situations can arise in biobanking. This paper empirically documents unexpected situations at the anonymous biobank ‘Xbank’. Firstly, Xbank received an unexpected and significant quantity of tissue from the historical archive of a hospital network. Secondly, Xbank had its funding withdrawn before the designated end date for the grant, meaning the bank needed to either re-house or destroy its holdings. This paper articulates and uses the theoretical frameworks of bio-objectification and tissue economies to analyse the experiences of Xbank and draw out further implications of the potential precariousness of biobanking practice. The case study allows an inspection of how the value of tissue is configured and reconfigured as institutional contexts shift. We introduce the notion of momentariness as a way of grappling with the related temporariness and perpetualness of biobanking practice in both a theoretical and practical policy context.

Original language	English
Article number	14
Journal	Life Sciences, Society and Policy
Volume	11
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s40504-015-0032-0
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The support of the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged. This work is part of the research program of the ESRC Genomic Network at Cesagen (ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics RES-145-28-0003). The support of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology ISCH COST Action IS1001 “Bio-objects and their boundaries: governing matters at the intersection of society, politics, and science” is also gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Prof Paul Atkinson of Cardiff University, and two anonymous peer reviewers, for useful comments. Finally we would also like to thank our participants for their involvement in this project.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Stephens and Dimond.

Keywords

Bio-objectification
Bio-objects
Biobanking
Closure
Momentariness
Value
Waste

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)
Philosophy
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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Cite this

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title = "Unexpected tissue and the biobank that closed: an exploration of value and the momentariness of bio-objectification processes",

abstract = "Unanticipated situations can arise in biobanking. This paper empirically documents unexpected situations at the anonymous biobank {\textquoteleft}Xbank{\textquoteright}. Firstly, Xbank received an unexpected and significant quantity of tissue from the historical archive of a hospital network. Secondly, Xbank had its funding withdrawn before the designated end date for the grant, meaning the bank needed to either re-house or destroy its holdings. This paper articulates and uses the theoretical frameworks of bio-objectification and tissue economies to analyse the experiences of Xbank and draw out further implications of the potential precariousness of biobanking practice. The case study allows an inspection of how the value of tissue is configured and reconfigured as institutional contexts shift. We introduce the notion of momentariness as a way of grappling with the related temporariness and perpetualness of biobanking practice in both a theoretical and practical policy context.",

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N2 - Unanticipated situations can arise in biobanking. This paper empirically documents unexpected situations at the anonymous biobank ‘Xbank’. Firstly, Xbank received an unexpected and significant quantity of tissue from the historical archive of a hospital network. Secondly, Xbank had its funding withdrawn before the designated end date for the grant, meaning the bank needed to either re-house or destroy its holdings. This paper articulates and uses the theoretical frameworks of bio-objectification and tissue economies to analyse the experiences of Xbank and draw out further implications of the potential precariousness of biobanking practice. The case study allows an inspection of how the value of tissue is configured and reconfigured as institutional contexts shift. We introduce the notion of momentariness as a way of grappling with the related temporariness and perpetualness of biobanking practice in both a theoretical and practical policy context.

AB - Unanticipated situations can arise in biobanking. This paper empirically documents unexpected situations at the anonymous biobank ‘Xbank’. Firstly, Xbank received an unexpected and significant quantity of tissue from the historical archive of a hospital network. Secondly, Xbank had its funding withdrawn before the designated end date for the grant, meaning the bank needed to either re-house or destroy its holdings. This paper articulates and uses the theoretical frameworks of bio-objectification and tissue economies to analyse the experiences of Xbank and draw out further implications of the potential precariousness of biobanking practice. The case study allows an inspection of how the value of tissue is configured and reconfigured as institutional contexts shift. We introduce the notion of momentariness as a way of grappling with the related temporariness and perpetualness of biobanking practice in both a theoretical and practical policy context.

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Unexpected tissue and the biobank that closed: an exploration of value and the momentariness of bio-objectification processes

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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