MAJOR research into the ownership and control of genetic information is to be conducted by scientists at the University of York.

The two-year study will see 100 scientists, policy-makers and members of the public questioned about their perceptions of ownership and control of genetic research.

Questions on the Biobank UK project - a genetic study by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council and the Department of Health using 500,000 volunteers - will be included as well as this week's report by the Human Genetics Commissions (HGC) which called for tighter controls on the use of genetic material and the banning of secret DNA tests to ensure protections for individuals.

The study, which received £133,500 funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, will be led by Dr Anne Kerr and Dr Richard Tutton, of the department of sociology at York, together with Dr Sarah Cunningham-Burley, of the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, at the University of Edinburgh.

The team will look at how people consider they or others "own" and use their genetic information, and how their views are influenced by feelings about social responsibility or citizenship.

Dr Kerr said the results will be disseminated widely within the health sector.

She said: "These issues have been thrown into sharp relief by the Biobank UK initiative that will collect tissue samples, medical records and lifestyle data from 500,000 volunteers.

"We will hold a series of focus groups with scientists, clinicians, representatives from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, policy-making bodies, and different members of the public.

"Focus groups have been found to be highly effective when they involve lay people and professionals because personal experience can be combined with debate on the wider social and scientific issues."

Groups will include health charities, molecular and clinical geneticists, representatives from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries and support from community groups.

Dr Kerr said: "We want to know if people think about this as purely a health matter, or a social matter.

"What are people's perceptions of responsibility to society with regard to tissue donation, for example?

"The work should be of particular interest to policy-makers grappling with the detail of genetic regulation, patenting or the establishment of Biobank UK."

Updated: 11:55 Thursday, May 23, 2002