Biobank Digitization in Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs): Current and Future Technological Developments

Abstract

AbstractDigitization is currently penetrating all fields of modern sciences and has consequently become a critical aspect of modern biobanking operations, as biobanks constitute part of the foundational research infrastructures. Biobanks that specialize in the long-term storage of biological samples, such as tissues, blood, and DNA, have recently been established in several low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) in the Arab region of the Middle East, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Sudan. The current chapter provides an overview of the challenges for digitization of healthcare, current and future technological developments with specific examples from LMICs. Utilizing the experiences from LMICs, and in particular from Egypt, a set of recommendations is also put forward.