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Structuring a research infrastructure : A study of the rise and fall of a large-scale distributed biobank facility

Larsson, Anthony ; Savage, Carl ; Brommels, Mats and Mattsson, Pauline LU (2018) In Social Science Information 57(2). p.196-222
Abstract

This study analyses the perceived key interests, importance, influences and participation of different actors in harmonizing the processes and mechanisms of a distributed research infrastructure. It investigates the EU-funded initiative, BioBanking and Molecular Resource Infrastructure in Sweden (BBMRI.se), which seeks to harmonize the biobanking standards. The study interviews multiple actors involved throughout the development process. Their responses are analysed via a framework based on the IIED Stakeholder Power Analysis Tool. The BBMRI.se formation was facilitated by two parallel processes, with domestic and European/foreign origin, with leading scientists becoming ‘National Champions’. The respondents joined the organization... (More)

This study analyses the perceived key interests, importance, influences and participation of different actors in harmonizing the processes and mechanisms of a distributed research infrastructure. It investigates the EU-funded initiative, BioBanking and Molecular Resource Infrastructure in Sweden (BBMRI.se), which seeks to harmonize the biobanking standards. The study interviews multiple actors involved throughout the development process. Their responses are analysed via a framework based on the IIED Stakeholder Power Analysis Tool. The BBMRI.se formation was facilitated by two parallel processes, with domestic and European/foreign origin, with leading scientists becoming ‘National Champions’. The respondents joined the organization under the premise that it would be a collaborative endeavour, but they were disappointed to learn the deliberative elements were more prevalent. In conclusion, the resulting autonomous structure caused disarray, while also fuelling interpersonal differences, ultimately leading to the closure of the infrastructure. Hence, it is necessary to clearly identify potential collaborative and deliberative elements already at the outset while also securing wider forms of communication between the participating actors, when establishing distributed research infrastructures. Moreover, while prior literature suggests that research infrastructures counteracts fragmentation, these results illustrate that this is not the case for this distributed research infrastructure.

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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
BBMRI.se, biobanking, collaboration, deliberation, research infrastructure
in
Social Science Information
volume
57
issue
2
pages
27 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85043383019
ISSN
0539-0184
DOI
10.1177/0539018418761848
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
ec34c15c-bd07-4c3e-9729-e6bc91b092da
date added to LUP
2019-06-14 18:02:15
date last changed
2024-02-15 12:31:56
@article{ec34c15c-bd07-4c3e-9729-e6bc91b092da,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study analyses the perceived key interests, importance, influences and participation of different actors in harmonizing the processes and mechanisms of a distributed research infrastructure. It investigates the EU-funded initiative, BioBanking and Molecular Resource Infrastructure in Sweden (BBMRI.se), which seeks to harmonize the biobanking standards. The study interviews multiple actors involved throughout the development process. Their responses are analysed via a framework based on the IIED Stakeholder Power Analysis Tool. The BBMRI.se formation was facilitated by two parallel processes, with domestic and European/foreign origin, with leading scientists becoming ‘National Champions’. The respondents joined the organization under the premise that it would be a collaborative endeavour, but they were disappointed to learn the deliberative elements were more prevalent. In conclusion, the resulting autonomous structure caused disarray, while also fuelling interpersonal differences, ultimately leading to the closure of the infrastructure. Hence, it is necessary to clearly identify potential collaborative and deliberative elements already at the outset while also securing wider forms of communication between the participating actors, when establishing distributed research infrastructures. Moreover, while prior literature suggests that research infrastructures counteracts fragmentation, these results illustrate that this is not the case for this distributed research infrastructure.</p>}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Anthony and Savage, Carl and Brommels, Mats and Mattsson, Pauline}},
  issn         = {{0539-0184}},
  keywords     = {{BBMRI.se; biobanking; collaboration; deliberation; research infrastructure}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{196--222}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Social Science Information}},
  title        = {{Structuring a research infrastructure : A study of the rise and fall of a large-scale distributed biobank facility}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0539018418761848}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0539018418761848}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}