UAMS Tissue Bank

Tissue Bank Staff from L-R: Remelle Eggerson BS, Subraman Ranganathan PhD, Shonna Cotter BS,
Brandy Johnson BS and Mindy Gibbons, BSN, RNP

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 Tissue Bank

If you want to acquire specimens from the bank WITHOUT patient protected health information...
1. Contact PI or Tissue Bank Manager.
2. Provide an IRB approved protocol authorizing use of the UAMS Tissue Bank 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 Bank Manager.
2. Provide an IRB approved protocol authorizing use of the UAMS Tissue Bank 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 Bank

If you want to store specimens and make them available to other researchers...
1. Contact PI or Tissue Bank Manager.
2. Provide an IRB approved protocol authorizing use of the UAMS Tissue Bank for specimen collection.
3. Utilize Tissue Bank consent forms for proper informed consent of patients. The Tissue Bank staff will help with this process.
4. Upon arrival, Tissue Bank staff will process specimens for storage.
5. Track specimen collection using our web-based data management software. The Tissue Bank staff will help with this process.

If you want to store specimens WITHOUT making them available to other researchers...
1. Contact PI or Tissue Bank 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 Bank for specimen acquisition.
3. Utilize Tissue Bank consent forms for proper informed consent of patients. The Tissue Bank staff will help with this process.
4. Upon arrival, Tissue Bank staff will process specimens for storage.
5. Track specimen collection using web-based software. The Tissue Bank 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

Tissue Bank 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 Tissue Bank personnel of your specific needs.
3. Coordinate provision of needed supplies, logistics of transport and delivery with Tissue Bank personnel.

Researcher Responsibilities

1.  Abide by Tissue Use Agreement and Attestation for Medical Record Retrieval conditions.

2. Inform Tissue Bank personnel of publications/grants resulting from the use of specimens issued by the Tissue Bank.

3. Cite the Tissue Bank in publications/grants resulting from the use of specimens issued by the Tissue Bank.

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 Bank.

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

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 work-up by the pathologist.

Does the Tissue Bank store specimen related Protected Health Information?  
* Yes. Two databases are maintained in the Tissue Bank:

• 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, BS
Project Manager
Phone: (501) 296-1504 ext 1705
EggersonRemelleM@uams.edu

Mindy Gibbons, BSN, RNP
Clinical Services Manager
Phone: (501) 296-1505 ext 1742
GibbonsMindyG@uams.edu

Marwan Yared, MD
Medical Director