Future Research: How to Deal with the Problem that Future Research May Often Not Be Able to Be Defined in Narrow and Specific Terms, as It Depends on the Current State of Research?

The issue of the identification of future research depends on the current state of research, and could be answered by saying that there exists little relationship between future research and the current state of research. The qualification of future research in the framework of the GDPR is not linked just to the current state of research, but also to the general notion of scientific research. In the framework of the GDPR, this general notion coincides with the concept of a research project set up in accordance with relevant sector-related methodological and ethical standards and in conformity with good practice. Thus, especially in relation to biobanking activities and the building of a research database, it is possible to talk about future research having lawful broad consent for the use and re-use of personal data only if the further activity or future research could qualify as a 'genuine research project' developed within the framework of the activities of a public or private research organisation.