Human Tissue Act Update

Latest information on the implementation of the Human Tissue Act - licensing, designated individuals, queries...

The final stage of the Human Tissue Act legislation was implemented on 1st September 2006. 

Under the Act, certain activities must now hold a licence in order to be conducted legally. 

Storage of tissue for research is included under this licensing requirement, unless you are storing it for a specific ethically approved study. Any subsequent storage after a study has ended, for future research, must be licensed.

As noted above, the Clinical Research Office has recently held training sessions on the implications of the Act for researchers at each campus.  The PowerPoint slides are now available on the CRO website at:
www.imperial.ac.uk/clinicalresearchoffice/training/monthlylunchtimeworkshopseries/humantissueactandthehumantissueauthority

The slides contain full details of all licensable activities and the responsibilities of researchers under the Act.

If you are conducting any of the licensable activities, it is important that you inform the Designated Individual (DI) responsible for the licence on your campus to ensure your work is covered. 

If you completed the recent questionnaire on such activity that was circulated by Gary Roper, this information will be passed onto the relevant DI and you will be covered.

Local DI’s are:

• Mr Gary Roper - Imperial College licence (covers South Kensington campus and specific tissue stores at Charing Cross and Ealing)
• Dr Graham Taylor - St Mary’s licence
• Professor Martin Cowie - Royal Brompton licence
• Dr Tim Ryder - Hammersmith and Charing Cross licence
• Michael Burke - Northwick Park licence
• Mervyn Maze - Chelsea and Westminster licence

If you have any queries or would like further information, please contact a member of the Clinical Research Office.