Information for Researchers

The Tayside Biorepository (TBR) makes available a wide variety of matched normal and diseased tissue (primarily tumour material), as well as blood samples, for the purposes of medical research. The TTB is also able to provide histological, immunocytochemical, molecular, LMD and tissue microarray (TMA) services to investigators. (See Service Requests). Importantly the Bank also governs access to samples from the local NHS Pathology archive. Authorisation to examine H&E slides or to obtain sections from Formalin Fixed paraffin Embedded (FFPE) blocks for research purposes should be routed through the TTB Tissue Request system.




tissue samples in a box

Registration of a local Collection

Following the issue of a letter from the Chief Medical Officer regarding an “Accreditation scheme for the collection and storage of NHS tissue in Scotland” Tayside Biorepository has been charged with overseeing the governance of all local collections of surplus tissue derived from NHS patients that are intended for research. This applies whether the tissue is stored in NHS or University premises. A communication outlining arrangements within Tayside to comply with this initiative has been circulated to local investigators.

Tayside Biorepository is acting as a central resource through which all collections of surplus patient samples and human tissue for research should be notified and channelled. Note that it is not intended or necessary that collections are physically stored within the custody of the TBR. This resource will promote and facilitate research whilst establishing an appropriate governance structure and help ensure that all human tissues and tissue “banking” within Tayside and the University of Dundee is conducted in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements.

How to register your collection

Registering a local collection of samples requires a Tayside Biorepository user account. Once the account has been created and validated (or if you already have an account) you may register the collection.