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44 - Human tissue and biological samples for use in research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2010

Sue Eckstein
Affiliation:
King's College London
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Summary

Foreword

Several factors led the MRC to decide that there was a need to develop guidance for researchers on ethical, legal and management issues relating to the use of samples of human biological material for research. Technical advances, for instance in the ability to extract genetic material, meant that the potential to use old samples for research was increasing. We were regularly being asked for advice on what should happen to potentially useful sample collections when a research team disbanded or a lead researcher retired, and on what research would be permissible using stored samples originally collected for another purpose. Also it was clear that, following on from rapid developments in knowledge of the human genome sequence, large numbers of well documented human DNA samples would be essential for the research needed to translate this knowledge into real benefits for public health and health care.

In view of widespread concern about informed consent, confidentiality and ethical issues relating to genetic research, we felt it was essential to establish the general principles that could govern the use of all human biological material in research, including DNA.

The use of human biological material is critical for medical research. Consequently, the public and research participants should have confidence that researchers will handle and use such material sensitively and responsibly. It is like-wise important to the MRC to ensure that collections of human biological material can be used optimally for research to benefit health. Since our responsibility as a public body is to ensure that our funds are used wisely, we do not want to fund the unnecessary collection of new material.

Type
Chapter
Information
Manual for Research Ethics Committees
Centre of Medical Law and Ethics, King's College London
, pp. 279 - 299
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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