The UKHSA Biobank

  • Research type

    Research Tissue Bank

  • IRAS ID

    334801

  • Research summary

    The UKHSA Biobank

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/EE/0251

  • Date of REC Opinion

    24 Jan 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion

  • Data collection arrangements

    The UKHSA Biobank will store and accrue COVID positive and negative samples in line with HTA regulations and Biobank best practice (Tissue, fluid, swabs, blood and derivatives, urine, faeces, cerebrospinal fluid) from living and deceased patients along with some non-identifiable metadata (e.g. gender, ethnicity etc) which has been collected from either: (i) residual samples where consent is implied or (ii) patients with consent from specific studies.

    The bank currently holds in excess of 600,000 samples and is located on a secure UKHSA site in Colindale.

  • Research programme

    The UKHSA Biobank itself is operated and supported by the UKHSA and operates a not-for-profit cost recovery system to supply and distribute samples and associated anonymised data to researchers, this should make the bank sustainable. The UKHSA Biobank supports six staff members ranging from a Biobank Manager, operational staff and data support. The UKHSA Biobank also supports the scientific community globally as anyone can submit an expression of interest to request samples from the biobank. Research project are then assessed by the Biobank Access Committee (BAC) for approval. The UKHSA Biobank will be promoted via the UKHSA Culture Collections website (www.culturecollections.org.uk) and the UKCRC TDCC directory (www.biobankinguk.org). Research publications arising from the supply of data and/or samples by the UKHSA Biobank will also be published quarterly along with Key performance Indicators on the Biobank website.

  • Storage license

    12459

  • RTBTitle

    The UKHSA Biobank

  • Establishment organisation

    UK Health Security Agency

  • Establishment organisation address

    61 Colindale Avenue

    Colindale

    London

    NW9 5EQ