Research

The term ‘research’ is often used to mean a wide range of activities which might be laboratory - or treatment-based. The type of research regulated by the HTA is perhaps best thought of as ‘laboratory bench’ research. We ensure that this tissue is removed and stored in an appropriate and well managed way.

We license organisations for removal and storage for research in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our licensing role in research is limited to licensing premises - such as tissue and brain banks - storing tissue from the living and deceased. We also license establishments - including post mortem establishments - where tissue is removed from the deceased for research.

We do not license the ‘use’ of tissue for research or approve individual research projects or clinical trials. Neither do we have a role in the ethical approval of research. We do, however, work in partnership with other organisations to ensure that the regulatory environment is easy for researchers to navigate and understand.

Although the Act requires that removal of tissue from the deceased for research is licensed, its storage can be exempt from licensing. A lot of tissue stored for research is automatically exempted from licensing and consent requirements, because it comes from living people and there is project-specific approval from a recognised Research Ethics Committee. Information about regulation in Scotland is provided by Health Scotland.

Guidance

Research Licensing Standards and Guidance

This guidance helps licensed establishments to meet the HTA’s research licensing standards.

Read the guidance

Research FAQs

Your questions on the Research regulated sector answered.

Read the research FAQs

Record retention FAQs

Your questions on record retention answered.

read the record retention FAQs

Extending licences to cover the removal of tissue from the deceased for research

Guidance on removing tissue for research.

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Information for research tissue banks

In-depth information on the regulation of research tissue banks.

Read the guidance

Consent for post-mortem examination and tissue retention under the Human Tissue Act 2004

Guidance on retaining tissue for research from a post-mortem.

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Human tissue xenografts

Guidance on our position on human tissue xenografts.

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Information on research tissue banks

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Research tissue bank FAQs

Your questions on research tissue banks

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Further resources for the research sector

General Medical Council

The GMC provides guidance setting out good practice principles for doctors involved in research.

The Medical Research Council Regulatory Support Centre

The Medical Research Council Regulatory Support Centre produces an e-learning resource, in consultation with the HTA, which provides an overview of human tissue legislation in the UK as well as best practice guidance and practical tips for compliance. Their Data and Tissues tool kit provides practical guidance on the regulatory and governance requirements when using personal information and/or human tissue samples in research.