Tissue Access for Patient Benefit
Our work
It can be difficult for researchers to access human tissue for their work due to long ethical, regulatory, and contractual processes. We can assist with this. UCL has several licensed biobanks which can prepare and hold human tissue samples for use by medical researchers.
Our aim is to be a leading academic institution in providing human tissue for medical research within the UK and globally. London has the highest concentration of biomedical researchers in Europe, and TAPb are associated with several research-intensive hospitals in north London.
To achieve this vision, we are working towards three goals:
- Create an overarching infrastructure using a cost recovery model.
- Consolidate information and availability from disparate human tissue resource around UCL.
- Gain centralised ethical and regulatory and contractual approval for use of the tissue.Ìý
This will drastically reduce the time needed to obtain human tissue for research and simplify the costing model.
Researchers can also access expertise from TAPb on regulatory, ethics and practical issues concerning access, transfer, and use of this type of material from our organised events.
Our facilities
- Secure IT hub for real time monitoring of ethics, collection and distribution of samples.
- Team of Tissue Collection Officers trained in ethics, governance and tissue collection.
- Admin / scientific team with expertise in lab-based research, human tissue use, ethics and governance.Ìý
Team Members
(Lead)
(Lead)
(Director)
(Director)
(Laboratory Manager)
Natalie Getreu (Portfolio Manager)
(Research Assistant)
(Tissue Collection)
Aziza Turghunova (Tissue Collection)
Komal Ramashaye (Tissue Collection)
(Tissue Collection)
Stephanie Bogan (Tissue Collection)
Sample and data collections at 911±¬ÁÏÍø
- Biobanks at 911±¬ÁÏÍø
Ìý
- Data repositories
- Whitehall II Study
- Clinical Epidemiology Group
- Health Survey for England
- Dental Public Health
- Genetic Epidemiology
- Health and Social Surveys Research
- Health Care Evaluation
- ESRC International Centre for Lifecourse Studies in Society and Health
- UCLÌýDisability and Inclusive Development Centre
- Psychobiology
- Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE)
- Data Collection on Adverse events of Anti-HIV DrugsÌý(D:A:D)
- Databases for HIV: Integration, Collaboration and Engagement (DHICE) Project
- EuroSIDA
Ìý
- Access to equipment
UCL is investing in a network of sustainable world-class science and technology platforms, ensuring our researchers have access to equipment and expertise essential to supporting world-leading research.
- Groups using human tissue
- Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care
- TROPS (Tumour Research Organ Perfusion System) (WEISS, CABI, Engineering)
Ìý
- Clinical trials
Ìý
Funding / Partnerships
- NIHR RfPB
- UCL WEISS
- UCL CABI
- UCL Engineering
Selected publications
- Schmidt NM, Wing PAC, Diniz MO, Pallett LJ, Swadling L, Davidson B, et al. (2021).Ìý. Nat Commun 12, 2814.
- Zakeri N, Hall A, Swadling L, Pallett LJ, Gander A, Davidson BR, et al.Ìý(2022).Ìý. Nat Commun 13, 1372.
- Abudhaise H, Taanman JW, DeMuylder P, Fuller B, Davidson BR. (2021). . PLoS ONE 16(10): e0257783.
- Sims JM, Lawrence E, Glazer K, Gander A, Fuller B, Davidson, BR et al. (2021). . BMJ Open 2022;12:e047309.
Videos
Our experts and distinguished guests have discussed some of the core issues around transplantation.
Brian Davidson |ÌýA Brief History of Transplantation Organ Donation and Research
Sarah Hosgood |ÌýImproving Kidney Transplantation by 'Pre-conditioning'
Paolo Muiesan |ÌýSplit liver transplant benefits for children
Victoria Marshment |ÌýThe HTAÌý2004 applied to transplantation and research
Safer Medicines Campaign
Among the topics addressedÌýbyÌýSafer Medicines CampaignÌýis theÌýuse of human tissue forÌýresearch. See the full video.
DNA analysis under the Human Tissue Act
- An introduction to the HTA
- Use of DNA in research
- Non-concentual DNA analysis
- DNA definitions as part of the HTA
- Consent for DNA use