Coordinated Support for National Tissue Directory

The University of Nottingham is taking a leading role in coordinating the UKs first national tissue directory. This new resource aims to improve access to human tissue samples for high quality research across the UK. But the biggest challenge has been in providing the best data and analytical services for the new UKCRC Tissue Directory.

The directory of biobanks aims to become the focal point for all biobanking activity in the UK and specialists from Nottingham’s Advanced Data Analysis Centre and Information Services department in collaboration with the University College London have spent the last 12 months working on the project funded by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.

Dr Philip Quinlan, from the Advanced Data Analysis Centre and Acting Director of the UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre said: “This is truly a landmark occasion in the UK. For the first time we have a coordination effort across all disease types and research areas with the direct aim of facilitating world leading research and investment in the UK.”

The Directory works across four main areas:

• Informatics: making tissue and data collections easier to find and access through a freely accessible online Tissue Directory;
• Harmonisation and Quality: developing standards and consensus on the collection and storage of tissues and data across academia, the NHS and industry so they can be more widely used across projects;
• Stakeholder Engagement: working with people and organisations to promote best practice in sample collection, governance and public engagement; and

International: connecting the UK with European and other international biobanking initiatives such as BBMRI-ERIC, by being the UK National Node (BBMRI.uk), to further increase access to samples and ensure UK systems are compatible with those abroad.