biobank research system in which the primary research or collection sites are institutional sources for biobank data and samples, and the biobank in turn is a source for secondary researchers. We also avoid the term “donors,” to avoid implying that the individuals whose data and/or samples are collected have donated a gift and are owed nothing in return (as some would argue in the case of whole-organ donation, for example). While there is no perfect term, “contributor” suggests the vital contribution each individual makes to the assembly of a biobank and subsequent conduct of research.
