Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Metabolomics in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Consent, Governance, and Trust
Metabolomics, the comprehensive analysis of small-molecule metabolites in biological samples, offers significant potential to improve health outcomes and support sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, its implementation raises complex ethical, legal, and social implications, particularly regarding informed consent, governance, data sharing, and community trust. LMICs face unique challenges, including variable regulatory frameworks, limited institutional capacity, and socio-cultural factors that influence participation and understanding of research. Broad and specific consent models, data stewardship practices, equitable benefit-sharing, and participatory community engagement emerge as critical mechanisms for ethical metabolomics research. Case studies from Ghana and Zimbabwe highlight the importance of context-specific governance and culturally appropriate engagement strategies. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening governance frameworks, enhancing interoperability of metabolomics data, and fostering durable trust through transparency, stakeholder engagement, and fair access to benefits. This paper emphasises the need for evidenceinformed policy development and localised ethical standards to ensure that metabolomics research contributes meaningfully to health equity, scientific advancement, and sustainable development in LMICs.