Access to high quality human biological samples and associated medical
information is an essential prerequisite to biomedical research and innovation for both
academia and industry. In particular, the private industry sector needs access to
biospecimens and data to develop innovative products to keep or gain market
leadership. Interaction between industry and academia is important from a social and
economic stand point. One provides sustainable global economy while the other
contributes to the scientific knowledge base. The main challenge in such collaborations
is reconciling perceived altruism and open collaboration with intellectual property and
profit. In order to establish a fruitful collaboration, the partners need to recognize their
differences to produce positive outcomes for both and avoid the potential drawbacks
that different cultures can encur when attempting to join forces. As seen in previous
chapter, biobanking is indeed a liaison between the public and private realms. Models
for partnerships must be characterized by a common vision, shared mutually agreed
goals, clear commitment and investment from all partners through formalized
collaboration and shared decision-making.This chapter focuses on the elements
necessary for successful collaboration between public and private realms and looks at
various models of collaborations, from traditional models,that existed before
biobanking was recognized as a discipline, to recent models of public-private
partnership. These include models directly created for private collaborations with
biobanks as well as models of collaboration where biobanks play an integral part. The
chapter concludes with suggestions for innovative models of public-private synergy in
biobanking for the future.
Keywords: Charitable-trust, Consortia, Data banks, Expert centers, Honestbroker,
Intellectual property, National biobank, Networks, Public trust, Research,
Safe-harbor, Service, Umbrella initiative, Validation studies.
