Concepedia

TLDR

The Cooperative Human Tissue Network is a consortium of academic institutions that supply human tissues for research across a wide range of neoplastic and other diseases. The paper discusses the Cooperative Human Tissue Network’s experience in establishing prospective tissue collection methods and tumor banks to guide institutions in creating tissue resources for investigators. It outlines procedures for tissue collection, processing, storage, data collection, and supply, and details the personnel, space, equipment, and supplies needed to initiate organized tissue collection. Establishing an organized tissue resource benefits pathology departments and institutions by ensuring IRB approval, protecting diagnostic specimens, creating extramural research opportunities, speeding specimen transport, and providing educational and research opportunities for pathologists and residents.

Abstract

The Cooperative Human Tissue Network is a group composed of cooperating academic institutions that supply human tissues to researchers studying a wide range of neoplastic and other diseases. The experience of the Cooperative Human Tissue Network in establishing methods of prospective tissue collection and in developing tumor banks is discussed to aid institutions in establishing tissue resources for their local investigators, who may wish to use human tissues in current or future research projects. The advantages to pathology departments and to associated medical institutions of establishing an organized tissue resource include ensuring proper institutional review board approval of research projects using human tissues, protecting diagnostic specimens, creating new opportunities for extramural research, increasing the speed of diagnostic specimen transport to surgical pathology, and providing educational and research opportunities for pathologists and pathology residents. Methods of tissue collection, processing, storage, data collection, and supply are outlined. Also, resources necessary to begin organized tissue collection, including personnel, space, equipment, and supplies, are discussed.