Biobank Expertise and the Research Unit-Biobank Relationship
Abstract
The present paper models the relationship between a research unit wishing to launch a new project and a biobank capable of supplying the necessary biological resources (biological samples and associated data). Although the project’s aim may be to produce an innovative product or process, such as a new drug or treatment protocol, whether it will be a success is uncertain. Neither the biobank nor the research unit can know a project’s commercial value in advance, but this value is endogenous, that is, it depends on the actions and decisions of the actors involved. Our objective was to ascertain how these actions and decisions affect the project’s value.