Focus on Alternatives

Donation of Human Tissues for Research

Ethically-sourced human tissues and cells derived from them are invaluable for medical research and testing. Human tissues can provide a direct alternative to animal tissues, with the added advantage of avoiding problems of species extrapolation and improving relevance to human patients. Furthermore, in some instances in vitro human tissue approaches have replaced in vivo animal studies. A reliable supply of high-quality human tissues and cells would be valuable both for medical progress and the replacement of animals in research.

Focus on Alternatives’ interest in the availability of human tissues arose from contacts from scientists who had indicated problems in the supply of primary human tissues for research. Focus on Alternatives was concerned that a restricted supply of human tissues for research would hamper the replacement of animal experiments. In addition, some Focus on Alternatives member groups receive requests from the public for advice on how to bequeath their body for medical research to help replace animals in laboratories, and there was a lack of advice available on this topic.

In response, Focus on Alternatives conducted a survey of scientists’ views on the supply of primary human cells and tissues for research, and produced a leaflet containing advice for individuals who wished to donate tissues for research.

Human tissue survey

A survey was undertaken to identify obstacles that limit the more widespread use of human cells and tissues in research. An initial pilot study was followed by a more widely distributed questionnaire, sent to scientists working in academia and industry in Britain. The survey was conducted between March and November 2006, and elicited 37 responses.

The majority of respondents (78%) acquired human cells or tissues for research from in-house sources and/or by collaborations with surgeons and clinicians. 24% sourced human tissues from the UK Human Tissue Bank at Leicester and 24% used commercial suppliers.

78% of respondents agreed that it could be difficult to obtain a regular and reliable supply of certain types of primary human cells and tissues for research purposes. 54% responded that the lack of a reliable supply prevented them from making greater use of human tissues in research.

The most common reason identified as preventing greater use of human tissues in research was the lack of a reliable supply. The other most commonly identified difficulty was the establishment and maintenance of collaborations with surgeons and clinicians, and the process of ethical approval and consent.

The most favoured ways to improve the supply and availability of human cell and tissues were the provision of more human tissue banks; improving public awareness of the need and usefulness of human tissues; and simplifying the ethical approval and consent procedures.

Focus on Alternatives produced a leaflet aimed at informing the public of the usefulness of human tissues in research and its potential to replace animal experiments, and providing advice on where and how donation of tissue is possible.

Conclusions and recommendations

• Researchers find it difficult to obtain a regular and reliable supply of several types of primary human tissues.

• The main advantage, identified by the Focus on Alternatives’ survey, to studying human tissues as opposed to animal tissues is that research is focused on the relevant species and disease state.

• The main disadvantages to using human tissues, as opposed to animal tissues, are the difficulties of supply or availability and the organisation of ethical approval.

• The supply and availability of human cells and tissues for research could be improved by the provision of more human tissue banks. A co-ordinated network of tissue banks, preferably across Europe, is needed.

• Research councils, charities and universities and others should collaborate to improve the retrieval and supply of human tissues for research.

• Simplifying and streamlining the ethical approval and consent procedure for using human tissues in research could encourage greater use of human cells and tissues in research.

• Public awareness of the need and usefulness of human tissues could be improved. The Human Tissue Authority needs to provide clear advice for public on how to bequeath a body for research purposes, and a list of tissue banks which can accept these donations.

• A leaflet produced by Focus on Alternatives for the public provides some advice on where and how donation of tissue is possible.

Click here to access the Human Tissue leaflet.

Click here to access the FoA Serum-Free Table

Reference: Newman, C. (2003) Serum-free cell culture - the ethical, scientific and economic choice.  The Biomedical Scientist September: 941-942.   (Presented on this site with permission of the copyright holder The Institute of Biomedical Science)

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