9. Human biological samples

  1. 9.1.1.  CR-UK recognises and supports the need for high quality human tissue collections for cancer research. CR-UK requires all CR-UK funded research and tissue sample collections to be carried out in compliance with the requirements of the Human Tissue Act (2004), which extends only to England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Human Tissue Act Scotland (2006).
  2. 9.1.2.  Grantholders must declare if any of CR-UK's monies, resources or manpower are used in toto or in part to collect, process, retain or distribute human tissue samples. Grantholders must confirm in a signed statement that the processes that they follow comply with the Human Tissue Act (2004) or the Human Tissue Act Scotland (2006) respectively, and applicable research governance arrangements.
  3. 9.1.3.  To ensure that tissues or sample collections are built and maintained in a cost-effective manner and used efficiently and effectively, Grantholders who hold tissue or sample collections are required to record information detailing the purpose and scope of the sample collection or tissue holdings together with any additional information CR-UK deems necessary on the NCRI Cancer Biosample Directory and the NCRI Cancer Clinical Trials Biosample Directory.
  4. 9.1.4.  In supporting the principle of making best use of human samples for the benefit of all, recipients of CR-UK funding or those who draw support from CR-UK funded tissue sample collections may be required as a condition of funding to contribute data generated from the use of that human tissue in a form that can be utilised as part of any national bioinformatics grid.
  5. 9.1.5.  CR-UK requires that principles governing access to the samples collected are established. This will enable access to the collection by other potential researchers in the future. CR-UK proposes that an Access Committee, with independent representation, is established and that systems to record approaches for access to the collection and your response to them are put in place.