Navigating tensions between scientific advancement and ethical practice in biobanking: a qualitative study in Japan

The long-term sustainability of biobanking depends on governance systems that are both ethically robust and operationally reliable. Despite this importance, only a limited number of empirical studies have examined which governance policies are actually implemented in biobank operations and what challenges arise in practice. This lack of systematic research is particularly evident in Japan. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with professionals involved in the operation and management of four Japanese biobanks. The study aimed to elucidate the underlying concepts and policies of organizational governance, as well as the challenges encountered in their implementation. The analysis generated three main themes: (a) organizational management and governance; (b) expansion of the scope of utilization and improvement of utilization rates and efficiency; and (c) stakeholders and research governance. These themes reflect the tension inherent in biobanks as medical research infrastructure between scientific advancement and ethical practice. It was within this tension that governance was conceived and enacted in everyday practice.