Ethical, legal and practical issues of establishing an adipose stem cell bank for research

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2014 Jun;67(6):745-51. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2014.01.030. Epub 2014 Feb 1.

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).

Keywords: Adipose derived stem cells; Adipose tissue; Biobank; Ethics; Stem cells; Tissue bank.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / transplantation
  • Biomedical Research*
  • Ethics Committees, Research / organization & administration
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / ethics*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Stem Cells
  • Tissue Banks / ethics*
  • Tissue Banks / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Tissue Preservation
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / ethics
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / legislation & jurisprudence