title: Fourth meeting of the European Network of Research Tissue Banks - future strategy to increase collaborations in the supply of human tissue for biomedical research.
abstract: This report records the Fourth meeting of the European Network of Research Tissue Bank (Brussels, 18th March 2004) which was attended by Mel Read MEP. The existing membership of this informal group represents European Human Research Tissue Bankers, biomedical researchers seeking access to human tissue and allied groups including animal welfare representatives. This Fourth meeting provided a forum to update members on individual activity in this area. A particular focus of this meeting was to consider the status of this group and future affiliations to increase the profile and activity of this Network. This meeting addressed differences in legislative and ethical requirements governing the use of human tissue in biomedical research in the different countries represented. Future activity of the ENRTB, planned at this meeting, will target harmonisation of current differences which are currently barriers to increased access to human tissue for biomedical research. Through the harmonisation of procurement, processing and distribution of human tissue specimens the ENRTB will provide a mechanism to benefit human health through increased use of human tissue in pharmacotoxicological studies and the associated replacement of animal tests.
authors.affiliation: The Innovation Centre, UK Human Tissue Bank, Leicester. samantha@ukhtb.org
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Heiki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helin
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ravid
authors.forename: Mel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Lysiane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.forename: Retlav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roosipuu
authors.forename: Ann-Cathrine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Jonsson-Rylander
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Syring
authors.forename: Tambet
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teesalu
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Thasler
authors.forename: Jacki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trafford
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Der Valk
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Womack
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ylikomi
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D014015:Tissue Banks