title: Ethical, legal and practical issues of establishing an adipose stem cell bank for research.
abstract: Access to human tissue is critical to medical research, however the laws and regulations surrounding gaining ethical and legal access to tissue are often poorly understood. Recently, there has been a huge increase in the interest surrounding the therapeutic application of adipose tissue, and adipose-derived stem cells. To facilitate our own research interests and possibly assist our local colleagues and collaborators, we established a Research Tissue Bank (RTB) to collect, store and distribute human adipose tissue derived cells with all the appropriate ethical approval for subsequent downstream research. Here we examine the legal, ethical and practical issues relating to the banking of adipose tissue for research in the UK, and discuss relevant international guidelines and policies. We also share our experiences of establishing an RTB including the necessary infrastructure and the submission of an application to a Research Ethics Committee (REC).
authors: The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4UU, UK; The BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, QMRI, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4TJ, UK; Department of Plastic Surgery, St John's Hospital, Howden Road West, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6PP, UK. Electronic address: c.c.west@doctors.net.uk.
authors: C C
authors: CC
authors: West
authors: The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4UU, UK; The BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, QMRI, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4TJ, UK.
authors: I R
authors: IR
authors: Murray
authors: The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4UU, UK; The BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, QMRI, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4TJ, UK.
authors: Z N
authors: ZN
authors: González
authors: The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4UU, UK; The BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, QMRI, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4TJ, UK.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Hindle
authors: The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4UU, UK.
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Hay
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, St John's Hospital, Howden Road West, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6PP, UK.
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Stewart
authors: The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4UU, UK; The BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, QMRI, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH16 4TJ, UK; Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, University of California at Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Péault
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D035843:Biomedical Research; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013234:Stem Cells; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
keywords: Adipose derived stem cells; Adipose tissue; Biobank; Ethics; Stem cells; Tissue bank