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.
Applications to obtain samples from Tayside Biorepository should be submitted electronically, via this website, as explained.
Anonymised clinical data on each patient sample can also be provided. Submissions should contain sufficient detail regarding their purpose
in order to allow the TBR Review Committee to make a full and proper assessment of the scientific and technical merit of the project and
the anticipated benefit. If and when approval is received for a given project, accession to material from the Bank is dependent on the
researcher agreeing to the terms and conditions laid down by the TBR Management Committee.
Prior to submitting a Tissue Request applicants are advised that they require to have the support of a local (i.e. Tayside)
clinician and pathologist so that the Bank can ensure material of the appropriate type and quality is provided. If you need assistance with
enlisting the help of a Tayside Pathologist or Clinician (e.g. if you are an external requestor with no local co-applicant)
then please contact the TBR. Please note that it is not expected that the supporting
pathologist or clinician need become formal collaborators on the project, but that appropriate recognition is made depending on the
level of assistance provided.
Review Committee:
The TBR Review Committee consists of a panel of clinicians and scientists as well as a representative of the Local Research
Ethics Committee (LREC).
Step 1
If the researcher does not already have one, they should first request a unique Tissue Bank login by clicking on the 'Create account'
button above. They will be required to provide their name, the name and address of their institution and their
contact details including email address, a user name and password.
Step 2
Tissue Requests require the following information to be submitted:
Name and email address of supporting pathologist (at least one must be provided)
Name and email address of supporting clinician (at least one must be provided)
Name and email address of any co-researchers
Title of the project
Project summary
Fuller details on the project may be included as an attachment
Indication as to whether project has been submitted to, or received approval from, the LREC (or indicate if none required)
Details of the tissue samples being requested including: number of samples, tumour site, and form (e.g. frozen tissue)
(For haematology samples the diagnosis, form of sample and number is requested)
Grant number or funder
Whether the tissue is within the custody of the TBR (for projects requiring approval but which do not require tissue)
Any other relevant information
An account will be set up for them by the TBR. Once the researcher has an account with the TBR they will be able to log on to the
website and submit a Tissue Request. Even if no tissue is
required from the TBR and they seek only approval of their project, this procedure should be followed.
An application should be created by entering all the information requested (see inset box) and clicking on "Create Request"
at the bottom of the page. Note that once a request is created it can be edited and amended prior to being submitted.
The requestor should periodically save all the information they intend to submit by clicking on the "Save Draft of Tissue Request"
option at the bottom of the Tissue Request screen. This will cause the status of the request, shown on the header line at
the top of the screen to change to "Request Created". Note that at this point the request has not yet been submitted for
consideration.
Step 3
Once all the pertinent information has been included on the Tissue Request the requestor should select "Submit Request to the Tissue
Bank"
at the bottom of the Tissue Request screen. This will cause the status of the request, shown on the header line at the top of
the screen to change to "Request Submitted". An email will automatically be sent to the Pathologist and Clinician
supporting the project, as well as any co-researchers, asking then to click on a link to indicate their support of the Tissue
Request. An email will also notify TBR staff that a new Tissue Request has been received. (At this point the status of the request
will show as: "Awaiting Co-Applicant Approval").
Step 4
Note that if the requestor also requires the Tayside Biorepository to perform any form of manipulation on the sample (e.g. embedding,
cutting sections, staining extracting nucleic acid etc) then a separate Service Request should be submitted.
Step 5
Once the pathologist, clinician and any co-researchers have indicated their approval the Tissue Request will be circulated
electronically by TBR staff to the Review Committee for their consideration. Any member of the Review Committee who is also
a co-applicant on the project will not be circulated or included in the review process.
Review Committee members will have four weeks from the date the request is circulated in which to comment on the request and
to indicate whether they 'Approve', 'Disapprove' or are 'Neutral' concerning the request.
Depending on the responses received from the Review Committee the Tissue Request will either be approved, rejected or further clarification
sought prior to acceptance providing a satisfactory response is received.
Step 6
The TBR will contact the lead investigator informing them by email of the result of the application. If successful the applicant will be
invited to contact the Bank to make arrangements to receive the tissue or other samples that have been requested.
