'What about this pregnancy?' - Ethical Considerations in Pregnancy-Related Biobanking

Complications during pregnancy remain a significant cause of morbidity and death for women worldwide. To fully address this pressing disease burden for women and neonates, we need to better understand the complex genetic, environmental, and social determinants affecting pregnancy. Biobanks collecting biospecimens such as blood, urine, hair, cord blood, and placental tissues characterize the types of samples needed to study these causes in populations. However, there are several important ethical considerations to conduct such collections responsibly. This presentation will offer an overview of the special ethical issues that may arise in collecting samples surrounding pregnancy: including responsibilities to communities, immediate benefit to donors, responsible management of incidental findings, and sensitivity to social-cultural considerations surrounding pregnancy.