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The QSBB holds a large archive of brain tissue, sufficient to support statistically valid case-control studies.
Our material is stored as formalin-fixed/wax embedded blocks and the majority of cases also have flash frozen samples. Flash-frozen material has excellent histological preservation and is suitable for in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Tissue can be provided as slide-mounted sections (paraffin embedded or frozen) or as small frozen blocks for neurochemistry or DNA and RNA analysis. Case controls are matched for age, sex and post-mortem delay and are supplied blind. Clinical data relating to the tissue supplied is made available on an anonymised basis.
Tissue requests from within the UK will be covered by the QSBB ethics approval. Requestors from outside the UK must provide evidence of approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee (or equivalent) of their parent institution. If ethical approval is not required by the parent institution we will require confirmation of this.
The QSBB Tissue Request Committee reviews all tissue requests, (see guidelines) with approval based upon the researcher’s expertise, track record and the merit of the research plan. If necessary, additional information may be sought from the researchers. After approval of a tissue request, the researcher and the researcher’s institution must agree to and sign a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) prior to the supply of tissue. MTA’s are specific to the supplying facility
| All departments within UCL and the Institute of Neurology |
| All requestors outside UCL (Excluding MRC Institutions) |
| All MRC Institutions |
The Human Tissue Act prohibits trade in human tissues for profit. To offset the considerable expenditure by the QSBB for the procurement of tissue, including operation costs associated with donor recruitment, tissue collection, processing, diagnosis, storage, data management and quality assurance, some cost recovery is necessary.
Researchers are invited to discuss with the QSBB, the service fee for access for their project prior to submission of their tissue application. Access rates for services are as recommended by the Medical Research Council UK Brain Banks Network.
Tissue Request Tariff | ||
|---|---|---|
Type of sample | Academic institution* | Commercial user* |
Unstained paraffin section on glass slide (small**) | £6.50 | £13.00 |
Unstained paraffin section on glass slide (large***) | £9.10 | £16.90 |
Unstained frozen section (small**) | £19.50 | £39.00 |
Unstained frozen section (large***) | £26.00 | £52.00 |
Frozen tissue sample | £32.50 per 0.5g | £65.00 per 0.5g |
Wet formalin fixed tissue (1-2 anatomical regions, small**) | £32.50 | £65.00 |
Wet formalin fixed tissue (3-4 anatomical regions, small**) | £45.50 | £91.00 |
Wet formalin fixed tissue (>5 anatomical regions, small**) | £58.50 | £117.00 |
Wet formalin fixed tissue (large***) | price on application | price on application |
DNA/RNA of brain homogenate | price on application | price on application |
Tissue homogenate | price on application | price on application |
Fresh tissue sample | £32.50 per 0.5g | £65.00 per 0.5g |
Cerebrospinal fluid | £32.50 per 2ml | £65 per 2ml |
Paraffin block (small**) | £130.00 | £260.00 |
Paraffin block (large***) | £260.00 | £520.00 |
Whole or half brain | price on application | price on application |
Administrative costs (simple) | £130.00 | £260.00 |
Administrative costs (complex) | £195.00 | £390.00 |
Packaging (simple) | £65.00 | £65.00 |
Packaging (complex) | price given with MTA quote | price given with MTA quote |
Delivery | price given with MTA quote | price given with MTA quote |
| Retrieval of additional data from clinical or pathology notes | £50.00 per hour | £50.00 per hour |
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*All prices exclude VAT | ||
**Small size corresponds to glass slide: 26 mm × 76 mm or tissue block: 26 mm x 33 mm | ||
***Large size corresponds to glass slide: 52 mm × 76 mm or tissue block: 48 mm x 63 mm | ||
For further information about requesting tissue for research, including information to consider before submitting a tissue request please contact the team at qsbbmtas@ucl.ac.uk
Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders
UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
1 Wakefield Street
London WC1N 1PJ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7837 8370
Fax: +44 (0)20 7278 4993
Email: qsbbmtas@ucl.ac.uk