Guidance: Human Tissue Act Licence
Background
Since the establishment of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) there have been strict legally binding parameters to follow when storing and using human tissue. The Human Tissue Act (HT Act), 2004 provides a framework for regulating the storage and use of human organs and tissue from the living, and the removal, storage and use of tissue and organs from the deceased, for specific health related purposes and public display.
Any activity within the University that involves the use of organs, tissues and cells has to follow strict Standard Conditions. The HT Act makes it an offence to have human tissue, including hair, nail and gametes in this context, with the intention of analysing its DNA without the consent of the individual from whom the tissue came, or of those close to them if they have died.
In order to comply with the Act all establishments that have any dealings with human material have to be licensed, with a Designated Individual (DI) identified who takes ultimate responsibility for compliance with the Act.
The licence holder is Bangor University
The DI for the University is Ms Vivien Shaw (v.shaw@bangor.ac.uk), Lecturer in Anatomy
The Licence Co-Ordinator for the University is Gwenan Hine, Head of Compliance.
The University has been granted a licence under Section 16 (2) (e) (ii) of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (‘the Act’). The licence authorises the storage of relevant material for the following scheduled purposes:
- Establishing after a person’s death the efficacy of any drug or other treatment administered to him
- Obtaining scientific or medical information about a living or deceased person which may be relevant to any other person (including a future person)
- Public display
- Research in connection with disorders, or the functioning of the human body
- Clinical audit
- Education or training relating to human health
- Performance assessment
- Public health monitoring
- Quality assurance
(the University is licensed for Anatomy - license number 12546)