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  • > What is the HTRC?
  • > The Human Tissue Act
  • > Tissue collection registration
  • > Access to a research tissue bank
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  • > Tissue Use Information Leaflet
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• QM Information Security
• Barts Health merger: research governance information
• Research Policies and Procedures (SOPs)

The Human Tissue Act

In order to comply with The Human Tissue Act 2004, the following activities can only be carried out under licence from the Human Tissue Authority:

• Anatomical examination
• Post mortem examination
• Removal of material from deceased persons in certain circumstances
• Storage of post mortem material
• Storage of anatomical specimens
• Storage of material from a living person (e.g. for research)
• Public display of a body or material from a deceased person.

The Human Tissue Resource Centre (HTRC) holds a licence for storage of human tissue for research covering tissue banks operating at Charterhouse Square, Dominion House (SBH), Whitechapel and Mile End Hospital, which authorise the research groups at these sites to continue their activities.

Over 20 Tissue Collection Centres (TCCs) have registered with the HTRC. These establishments are storing human organs, tissues and cells for research purposes other than for a specific ethically approved research project.

If your department is collecting or distributing tissue surplus tissue for research and/or are storing tissue that is NOT connected to an ethically approved research project AND you have not informed the HTRC, then you must do so immediately.

To download a registration form, go to Tissue collection registration.

Information for Tissue Collection Centres

The HTRC is working on changes to the process of obtaining consent for research. We are developing policies on the collection, storage and distribution of human tissue for research. To comply with the act, TCCs must have procedures in place to:

1. Obtain consent for the use and storage of tissue
2. Record where samples are stored
3. Record how and by whom tissue is disposed

The Human Tissue Act regulates the removal, storage and use of human tissue. This tissue is referred to in the Act as ‘relevant material’.

‘Relevant material’ is defined as:

• Material that has come from a human body and consists of, or includes, human cells.
• Cell lines are excluded, as are the hair and nails of the living.
• Live gamete and embryos are excluded as they are already regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

The Human Tissue Authority has issued guidance on what constitutes relevant material and this can be found on the HTA website.