An NHS biobank that supports vital research into conditions like cancer, autoinflammatory diseases and Alzheimer’s has become the first in the UK to receive an internationally recognised accreditation.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s (NHSGGC) Biorepository was given the award by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the UK’s national accreditation body.
It is the first centre in the UK to achieve accreditation against the ISO 20387:2018 ‘general requirements for biobanking’ standard, and one of only a handful across the world.
Accreditation against an ISO standard is a key indicator of high-quality processes and technical competence in the handling and storage of tissues used for research activities.
The Biorepository, based on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus, stores and provides access to a wide range of human tissue for use in valuable medical research by doctors and scientists who are studying a range of diseases.
These samples are taken from living donors during routine patient care.
They include surplus materials from diagnostic and surgical procedures and may be taken at different stages of disease to allow researchers to better understand how certain conditions start or develop, and the drugs that might work to treat them.
The team of 13, led by Biorepository Manager Clare Orange, handles around 90 requests for tissues per year, which come from academic and commercial researchers conducting medical studies.
Clare explained that the UKAS accreditation acts as a marker for the Biorepository’s quality, governance and high standards.
She said: “Biobanking is playing an increasingly pivotal role in a wide variety of scientific and medical research fields, where the quality, consistency and traceability of biological materials is paramount.
“I’m delighted that NHSGGC is the first organisation to receive UKAS accreditation for biobanking, reflecting the tremendous dedication and capability of the entire Biorepository team.
“This accreditation will help build confidence and provide assurance to researchers and commercial partners, and reinforces NHSGGC’s position as a centre of innovation in healthcare.
“It also epitomises our drive to lead the biobanking field and further enhances our reputation amongst our scientific and research colleagues, as well as our commitment to deliver high standards of patient care.”
The NHSGGC Biorepository is part of a network of four Biorepositories across Scotland which oversee governance on collection, storage and release of biological materials obtained for use in medical research.
Earlier this month, Clare and Human Tissue Governance Manager Fiona Graham travelled to London to receive an official Certificate of Accreditation.
Louise Sanders, Head of Development at UKAS, said: “ISO 20387 is the only holistic framework for assessing and maintaining consistent quality control and integrity in every aspect of biobanking, making it a critical benchmark for the scientific and medical research fields.
“Accreditation to ISO 20387 demonstrates the impartiality, operational competence and the embedding of best practices throughout biobanking operations.
“Not only does this give confidence to stakeholders and researchers in the quality, reliability and usability of biomedical materials, it makes an important contribution to the broader scientific and medical research communities.”
ISO 20387 is the first standard to comprehensively address specific biobanking challenges and requirements.
It covers the collection, transportation, preparation, preservation and traceability of human, animal, plant, fungal and microorganism samples.
Accreditation against ISO 20387 rigorously assesses the quality management, technical competence and ethical considerations of biobanking organisations, as well as the associated security, risk and data management provisions.
