ELSI Dialogues - Navigating the Future: Challenges, Risks and Opportunities of AI in Biobanking

Author(s)

Nikolaus Forgó, Marco Montali, Ilaria Colussi

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into biobanking presents transformative opportunities for research, diagnostics, and personalised medicine. However, this technological evolution also introduces complex legal, regulatory, and technical challenges.

This webinar recording from 11 April 2025 features a dynamic dialogue between two leading experts: Prof. Nikolaus Forgó (University of Vienna, Austria) (Professor for IT- and IP Law, who is also an expert member of the Austrian Data Protection Council and Member of the AI Advisory Board, and Prof. Marco Montali (the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy), Professor in Computer Engineering and awarded by the Italian Association of Artificial Intelligence to the best under 35 Italian researchers in artificial intelligence.

This ELSI Dialogues session addresses critical regulatory frameworks such as the GDPR and the AI Act, examining how data protection laws influence the deployment of AI technologies in biobanking, what the legal responsibilities arising from AI-driven decisions are and how the AI Act is publicly perceived.

We showcase real-world applications of AI in biobank data analysis and management, and discuss methods to mitigate bias in AI algorithms and strategies to ensure transparency and explainability in AI-driven insights.

Organisation(s)

Department of Innovation and Digitalisation in Law, Research Platform Governance of digital practices

External organisation(s)

Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium

Publication date

05-2025

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

505002 Data protection

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/afe51cb8-d1c8-4ba3-87af-3403c1077512