Legal issues in governing genetic biobanks: the Italian framework as a case study for the implications for citizen's health through public-private initiatives

This paper outlines some of the challenges faced by regulation of genetic biobanking, using case studies coming from the Italian legal system. The governance of genetic resources in the context of genetic biobanks in Italy is discussed, as an example of the stratification of different inputs and rules: EU law, national law, orders made by authorities and soft law, which need to be integrated with ethical principles, technological strategies and solutions. After providing an overview of the Italian legal regulation of genetic data processing, it considers the fate of genetic material and IP rights in the event of a biobank’s insolvency. To this end, it analyses two case studies: a controversial bankruptcy case which occurred in Sardinia, one of the first examples of private and public partnership biobanks. Another case study considered is the Chris project: an example of partnership between a research institute in Bolzano and the South Tyrolean Health System. Both cases seem to point in the same direction, suggesting expediency of promoting and improving public-private partnerships to manage biological tissues and biotrust to conciliate patent law and public interest.

[Remote results and critical review of the use of the Sparks-Mandril prosthesis]

Long-term clinical results and pathologic features, both macroscopic and microscopic, of 24 Sparks-Mandril grafts as femoro-popliteal substitutes are reviewed. High rate of complications and low percentage of patency are stressed. Further use of this graft is not recommended.