Our work
It can be difficult for researchers to access human tissue for their work due to long ethical, regulatory, and contractual processes. We can assist with this. UCL has several licensed biobanks which can prepare and hold human tissue samples for use by medical researchers.
Our aim is to be a leading academic institution in providing human tissue for medical research within the UK and globally. London has the highest concentration of biomedical researchers in Europe, and TAPb are associated with several research-intensive hospitals in north London.
To achieve this vision, we are working towards three goals:
- Create an overarching infrastructure using a cost recovery model.
- Consolidate information and availability from disparate human tissue resource around UCL.
- Gain centralised ethical and regulatory and contractual approval for use of the tissue.
This will drastically reduce the time needed to obtain human tissue for research and simplify the costing model.
Researchers can also access expertise from TAPb on regulatory, ethics and practical issues concerning access, transfer, and use of this type of material from our organised events.
Latest feature
Supporting blood tests to detect early-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma more effectively
TAPb is supporting the collection of hundreds of blood samples for a liquid biopsy prospective pilot study for liver cancer surveillance.
Our facilities
- Secure IT hub for real time monitoring of ethics, collection and distribution of samples.
- Team of Tissue Collection Officers trained in ethics, governance and tissue collection.
- Admin / scientific team with expertise in lab-based research, human tissue use, ethics and governance.
Team Members
Professor Amir Gander
TAPb Director
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
Dr Carolina Ramos
Laboratory Manager
Natalie Getreu
Portfolio Manager
Research Assistant
Tissue Collection
Aziza Turghunova
Tissue Collection
Komal Ramashaye
Tissue Collection
Kyra Fraser
Tissue Collection
Stephanie Bogan
Tissue Collection
Feature
Controlling cooling to preserve organs
Professor Barry Fuller spoke to Naked Scientist about controlling the cooling of organs to preserve them during the transplantation process.
Access to equipment
UCL is investing in a network of sustainable world-class science and technology platforms, ensuring our researchers have access to equipment and expertise essential to supporting world-leading research.
Groups using human tissue
- Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care
- Extreme Everest
- TROPS (Tumour Research Organ Perfusion System) (WEISS, CABI, Engineering)
Clinical Trials
Data repositories
- Whitehall II
- English Longitudinal Study for Aging
- Health Survey for England
- Dental Public Health
- Health and Social Surveys Research
- ESRC Int Centre for Lifecourse Studies in Society and Health
- UCL Disability and Inclusive Development Centre
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing
- Data Collection on Adverse events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D)
- Databases for HIV: Integration, Collaboration and Engagement
- EuroSIDA
Feature
Natural 3D-scaffolds for liver bioengineering and transplantation
Brian Davidson and Barry Fuller contribute to a study investigating bioartificial liver development, where TAPb coordinated the donor organs.
Funding / Partnerships
- NIHR RfPB
- UCL WEISS
- UCL CABI
- UCL Engineering
Selected publications
- Schmidt NM, Wing PAC, Diniz MO, Pallett LJ, Swadling L, Davidson B, et al. (2021). Targeting human Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase as a dual viral and T cell metabolic checkpoint. Nat Commun 12, 2814.
- Zakeri N, Hall A, Swadling L, Pallett LJ, Gander A, Davidson BR, et al. (2022). Characterisation and induction of tissue-resident gamma delta T-cells to target hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun 13, 1372.
- Abudhaise H, Taanman JW, DeMuylder P, Fuller B, Davidson BR. (2021). Mitochondrial respiratory chain and Krebs cycle enzyme function in human donor livers subjected to end-ischaemic hypothermic machine perfusion. PLoS ONE 16(10): e0257783.
- Sims JM, Lawrence E, Glazer K, Gander A, Fuller B, Davidson, BR et al. (2021). Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about sample access for research in the UK. BMJ Open 2022;12:e047309.
DNA analysis under the Human Tissue Act
- An introduction to the HTA
- Use of DNA in research
- Non-consentual DNA analysis
- DNA definitions as part of the HTA
- Consent for DNA use
