Cancer Research UK commentary examines broad consent models for research data reuse

Cancer Research UK has published a commentary piece examining the relationship between broad consent frameworks and the reuse of research data, with a focus on how consent models can be designed to keep pace with rapidly improving data analysis technologies. The piece, featuring perspectives from Leslie Glass, argues that enabling data reuse is central to maximising the scientific value of existing datasets in cancer and genomics research.

Broad consent — whereby research participants agree to their data being used for a range of future research purposes rather than a specific defined study — has become increasingly relevant in genomics and cancer research, where large-scale datasets are a prerequisite for statistically powered analyses. The commentary addresses the governance and ethical considerations that shape whether and how previously collected data can be analysed using new methods.

The piece is relevant to researchers working in data governance, cancer genomics, and biobank design, as well as educators and students interested in research ethics and the governance of genomic data. It does not contain primary research findings.