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International workshop looks at privacy of stem cell donor information


April 22, 2014

Dr. Jay Baltz was part of an international workshop in Banff, Alberta, that looked at ethical issues around the sharing of stem cell data and donor privacy. Dr. Baltz, who is Chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Stem Cell Oversight Committee, helped produce a paper published in Cell Stem Cell that examines how to allow access for researchers to stem cell lines, and, in particular, their genetic data while protecting the privacy and confidentiality of donors. If, for example, full genome sequences were made publicly available, it could allow matching of the stem cells to people related to the stem cell donors. The paper puts forward a set of guidelines for developing policies concerning the disclosure of stem cell donor information.

Funders: International Stem Cell Forum and the Stem Cell Network of Canada.

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