ELSI

Who we are

We are an interdisciplinary team of experts in Ethical, Legal, and Societal Implications (ELSI) of biobanking. With our diverse backgrounds (ethics, social sciences, law), we deliver reliable, practical and sustainable services based on state-of-the-art research for the immediate benefit of the life sciences community by setting standards, promoting best practices and enabling a sustainable platform for the biobanking community and public knowledge exchange.

What we do

We help biobanks and researchers across Europe and beyond meet the ethical and legal standards their work depends on. We do this through research, practical services, and training on the ethical, legal and societal implications (ELSI) that arise in biobanking and the life sciences.

Research is at the core of our programme. We work on questions such as how health data should be governed, how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly, how data can be shared safely across borders, how citizens can be meaningfully involved in research, and how emerging technologies should be overseen by humans. Our findings feed into publications, policy recommendations, and practical guidance that help build solid and trustworthy research and biobanking practices.

Our services are designed to give researchers and biobanks direct, usable support. The Knowledge Base is an open-access platform with practical ELSI guidance and resources. The BBMRI-ERIC Helpdesk offers expert ELSI advice on specific ethical, legal and societal questions. The Ethics Check service – accessed through the Helpdesk – service helps researchers meet ethical and legal requirements in line with EU ethics appraisal procedures.

We also share knowledge more widely through webinars, workshops, podcasts, and specialised courses, as well as ELSI Dialogues an open forum where researchers, ethicists, legal experts, patient representatives, industry representatives and policymakers discuss these issues together.

Our aim goes beyond compliance. By making sure research reflects ethical principles, legal requirements, and societal expectations from the outset, we support in ensuring that scientific advancement earns and keeps public trust.

Why it matters

As biomedical research evolves, health systems and biomedical research rely on patients and participants sharing ever more sensitive data. ELSI ensures their contributions are used responsibly, respecting autonomy, privacy, and the changing understandings and practices of consent. It also bolsters resilience during health crises, enabling rapid yet ethically sound data sharing.

ELSI perspectives play a crucial role in building public trust, contributing to streamlining cross‐border collaborations, and shaping responsible research practices for biomedical innovation.