Today in Russia and all over the world significant efforts are invested in building
biobanks—specialized facilities for storing biological materials for research and medical
purposes. The successful functioning of biobanks depends directly on people’s willingness
to donate their biological materials. No previous studies of people’s attitudes
toward donations to biobanks have been undertaken in Russia. The goal of this study
was to measure attitudes toward biobank donation among young Russians and to evaluate
potential sociodemographic and personality factors that play a role in a person’s
readiness to become a donor. Data from 542 students at Saint Petersburg State University
were collected from group-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Only
one-fifth of the students knew about the existence of biobanks, while roughly the same
number believed they might have heard something about them but were not absolutely
certain. However, the students indicated a relatively high level of readiness to become
biob