Human Biomaterials Resource Centre

• Research type

  Research Tissue Bank

• IRAS ID

  171283

• Research summary

  Human Biomaterials Resource Centre

• REC name

  North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/NW/0079

• Date of REC Opinion

  27 Feb 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion

• Data collection arrangements

  The HBRC is dedicated to the collection of appropriately consented high quality human biomaterials, their processing, storage and distribution for biomedical research.
  Samples are collected in a range of disease settings and may comprise tissue which is waste, or surplus to diagnosis taken at the time of surgery or treatment, additional samples taken specifically for research purposes, material taken from patients enrolled in clinical trials, and control material.

  The body sites involved are wide-ranging. There is a special interest in patients with cancer (breast, brain, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, head and neck, lung, skin, oesophageal, pancreas, urological, adrenal glands, lymph node, haematological and sarcoma). The HBRC also collects cardiovascular tissues, thymus, thyroid, liver, fat, blood, urine, ascitic fluid, saliva, CSF, synovial fluid, placenta, umbilical cord and umbilical cord blood. Tissues are released fresh, fresh frozen or as fixed sections.

  The HBRC obtains generic and enduring consent which covers genetic studies, research involving animals, long term cell culture, use by researchers locally, elsewhere in the UK and overseas, and by commercial/private companies carrying out biomedical research. The consent also covers access to health records and long term outcomes to enable samples to be annotated with clinical data.

• Research programme

  Resources supplied by the HBRC are currently utilized in a wide variety of research projects to enhance existing knowledge regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including cancer. Major aims of the research programmes supported are a greater understanding of the role of genetic alterations in disease initiation and progression, and also the development of emerging technologies and the application of these technologies to develop markers for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of response to therapy. More specifically, the HBRC will support research programmes involving cancer cell biology and tumourigenesis, tumour virology, tumour immunology, cancer genetics, cardiac and vascular disease, liver disease, renal disease, adrenal function and endocrine disorders, autoimmune disease, diabetes, epilepsy, neurodegenerative disease, gene regulation and epigenetics, ophthalmology, stem cell biology, microbial infection and antibiotic resistance. Although the HBRC is primarily a resource for local researchers, applications from elsewhere within the UK and overseas and the commercial sector are also considered.

• Storage license

  12358

• RTBTitle

  Human Biomaterials Resource Centre

• Establishment organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Establishment organisation address

  Edgbaston

  Birmingham

  B15 2TT