Perceptions of Biobanking in Lebanon: Implications for Policy, Ethics, and Regional Research Integration

Biobanks are essential infrastructures that collect, process, and store human biological samples and associated data to advance medical research, precision medicine, and public health. Despite their global expansion, biobank development in low-and middle-income countries remains limited due to financial, regulatory, and awareness-related challenges. This study investigated Lebanese public attitudes toward biobanking to guide the establishment of a national biobank consistent with ethical and legal standards. A cross-sectional online survey, adapted from the Middle East Research Ethics Training Initiative (MERETI) questionnaire, was distributed to 163 participants, primarily affiliated with Notre Dame University–Louaize (NDU), the institution hosting this study. In 2024, NDU became the Lebanese node of the ArabBiobank Network, representing a national step toward coordinated biobanking and regional research integration. Most respondents were female (70%), university-educated (55%), and aged 27 ± 9 years. While 56% had previously heard of biobanks, only 20% had participated in research. The majority recognized the societal value of biobanking (83%) and its potential to improve personalized medicine (59%), though concerns about data privacy and sample misuse persisted. Over 60% highlighted the need for governmental oversight in biospecimen sharing, indicating a preference for transparent governance frameworks. Overall, participants expressed optimism toward biobank-driven innovation, despite gaps in biomedical literacy and ethical awareness. Establishing a Lebanese biobank—supported through knowledge exchange with regional partners such as the Arab and Cyprus Biobank Networks—could significantly enhance genomic representation, foster biomedical research, and strengthen public health initiatives across the region.