The use of human biological samples for scientific research

• Research type

  Research Tissue Bank

• IRAS ID

  366235

• Research summary

  The Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) Human Biological Samples Biobank

• REC name

  Wales REC 3

• REC reference

  26/WA/0037

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Apr 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Unfavourable Opinion

• Data collection arrangements

  The MDC HBS Biobank includes a wide range of sample types, including biofluids; formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue (blocks and slides); tissue microarrays (TMAs); frozen and fresh tissue; primary cells; and other materials such as swabs, hair, nails, and skin.

  Samples from donors who are known to carry Hazard Group 3 or 4 pathogens, or who are known to have a prion disease, are excluded from storage and use.

  Samples are collected from a variety of organs and body sites and include both diseased cohorts and appropriate control materials.

• Research programme

  MDC works with collaborators across a range of fields, including but not limited to, neurodegeneration, oncology, and infectious diseases; to help bring effective medicines to market, more quickly. MDC operates across in vitro, pre-clinical, and translational medicine research, with a primary focus on drug discovery and development, alongside diagnostics support. While MDC’s core focus is applied and translational research, MDC also welcomes proposals for basic research and other healthcare-related projects, provided they are ethically appropriate and not ethically controversial. MDC-supported studies include assay development, exploratory analyses, validation studies, and service evaluations. MDC aims to provide drug researchers with access to cutting-edge research methodologies that are often not widely available, including, but not limited to: • Advanced super-resolution microscopy • Mass spectrometry, including mass spectrometry imaging (e.g. proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, glycomics) • Spatial tissue analyses, including (but not limited to) genomics, epigenomics, RNA, protein, and protein modification Advanced molecular analyses of liquid samples.

• Storage license

  12794

• RTBTitle

  The Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) Human Biological Samples Biobank

• Establishment organisation

  Medicines Discovery Catapult Limited (MDC)

• Establishment organisation address

  Block 35, Mereside

  Alderley Park

  SK10 4ZF