UAMS Tissue Biorepository and Procurement Service

Mission Statement

To deliver a diverse, high-quality human biospecimen repository with appropriate patient protections, best practice collection methodologies, clinical data capture mechanisms, and integrated information technology.

Provide this resource to UAMS research programs to enhance diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic cancer research efforts.

To build a self-sustaining, scalable program that focuses and expands resources to meet the needs of researchers.

Services Provided

• Collection, processing and storage of samples and related data
• Providing specimens and related data

How To Acquire Specimens from the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility

If you want to acquire specimens from the bank without patient protected health information…

1. Contact PI or Tissue Procurement Manager.
2. Provide an IRB approved protocol authorizing use of the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility for specimen acquisition.
3. Sign a Tissue Use Agreement.
4. Search the database and select specimens of interest.

Your request will be forwarded to the Tissue Utilization Committee. Upon approval, the requested specimens will be issued.

If you want to acquire specimens from the bank with patient protected health information…

1. Contact PI or Tissue Procurement Manager.
2. Provide an IRB approved protocol authorizing use of the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility for specimen acquisition AND access to protected health information.
3. Sign a Tissue Use Agreement.
4. Sign an Attestation for Medical Records Retrieval Form.
5. Search the database and select specimens of interest.

Your request will be forwarded to the Tissue Utilization Committee. Upon approval, the requested specimens will be issued.

How To Store Specimens in the Tissue Procurement Facility

If you want to store specimens and make them available to other researchers,

1. Contact PI or Tissue Procurement Facility Manager.
2. Provide an IRB approved protocol authorizing use of the UAMS Tissue Procurement
   Facility for specimen collection.
3. Utilize UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility consent forms for proper informed consent
   of patients. The Tissue Procurement Facility staff will help with this process.
4. Upon arrival, UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility staff will process specimens for storage.
5. Track specimen collection using our web-based data management software.
   The UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility staff will help with this process.

If you want to store specimens without making them available to other researchers,

1. Contact PI or UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility Manager. Inform them of your plan to use the specimens for your IRB approved research project only.
2. Provide an IRB approved protocol authorizing use of the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility for specimen acquisition.
3. Utilize UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility consent forms for proper informed consent of patients. The UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility staff will help with this process.
4. Upon arrival, Tissue Procurement staff will process specimens for storage.
5. Track specimen collection using web-based software. The UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility staff will help with this process.

These specimens will be segregated for exclusive use in your project. However, if you do not use them within a predetermined amount of time, they will be moved to the general pool of specimens and will be made available to other researchers. Using Research Specimen Processing Services

UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility personnel are available to help process your specimens for research protocol like serum or nucleic acid extraction.

1. Determine the processing procedure needed and the anticipated number of specimens needed.
2. Inform UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility personnel of your specific needs.
3. Coordinate provision of needed supplies, logistics of transport and delivery with UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility personnel.

Researcher Responsibilities

1. Abide by Tissue Use Agreement and Attestation for Medical Record Retrieval conditions.
2. Inform UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility personnel of publications/grants resulting from the use of specimens issued by the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility.
3. Cite the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility in publications/grants resulting from the use of specimens issued by the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility.
4. Cite the CCTR in publications resulting from studies which received support from CCTR resources. The NIH states, Research must include an acknowledgment of NIH grant support and disclaimer such as:

   The project described was supported by Award Number 1UL1RR029884 from the National Center For Research Resources. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center For Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do specimens stored in the bank belong to?
All specimens belong to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, represented by the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility.

Who has access to donated specimens?
Any UAMS researcher with an IRB-approved protocol may follow the appropriate procedures to obtain Tissue Procurement Facility specimens. A researcher providing specimens for use in a specific research project has exclusive access to these specimens while the research is ongoing.

Can donated specimens be withdrawn from the bank collection?
Yes. Specimens can be withdrawn if a donor withdraws consent or tissue is necessary for further diagnostic workup by the pathologist.

Does the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility store specimen-related Protected Health Information?
Yes. Two databases are maintained in the UAMS Tissue Procurement Facility:

• A database containing de-identified specimen related data. Researchers can access this database without prior IRB approval.
• A database containing a limited amount of Protected Health Information linking specimens and donors. Researchers can only access this database with prior IRB approval.

Contacts

Remelle Eggerson, B.S.
Project Manager
Phone: 501-686-7470
Email: EggersonRemelleM@uams.edu

Mindy Gibbons, B.S.N., RNP
Clinical Services Manager
Phone: 501-686-8569
Email: GibbonsMindyG@uams.edu

Leah Hennings, D.V.M.
Medical Director
Email: LHennings@uams.edu