Glossary
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Biomedical research – scientific research activities conducted to further the understanding and body of knowledge relating to clinical medicine.
Biopsy - the removal of a small sample of tissue or cells that can be examined for diagnostic purposes.
Biorepository - a physical place, room or container that can be used for the storage of biosamples.
Biosample - a quantity of tissue, blood, urine or other biologically derived material such as cells and extracted DNA that can be used for diagnosis and analysis.
Cryostore - a cryostore is a container used for freezing bio-samples in liquid nitrogen to a temperature of -196º Celsius and its subsequent storage at that temperature until used in future studies.
Cadaver - a deceased body, most often used for dissection and study.
Cadaveric - relating to a cadaver or corpse.
Cancer - a general term given for any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division.
Cell culture - a general term referring to the growth and maintenance of cell lines in the laboratory.
Cryostat - an instrument used in pathology and histology for sectioning frozen tissue.
Data - information collected from scientific experiments or diagnostic procedures that has been organised for scientific analysis.
DNA extraction - a routine procedure used to collect DNA for its subsequent molecular analysis.
Drug metabolism - the process by which enzymes break down drugs into their different chemical components, thus allowing them to carry out their therapeutic role and to eventually be eliminated from the body.
Drug targets - disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes that are identified and characterised primarily for the development of new drugs.
Dry ice - solid carbon dioxide used primarily as a coolant that sublimates at −78.5°C.
Enzyme - a protein that increases the speed of chemical reactions in the body.
Endothelial cells - a thin, flattened cell layer that lines the inside surfaces of body cavities, lymph and blood vessels.
Epidemiology - the study of the distribution, patterns, causes, and control of disease in a population.
Ethics Committee -a committee convened to provide independent advice to participants, researchers, funders, sponsors, employers, care organisations and professionals on the extent to which proposals for a clinical research study complies with recognised ethical standards.
Hepatocyte - a functional or parenchymal liver cell, specializing in enzyme synthesis.
Histopathology - study of the microscopic anatomical changes in diseased tissue.
Homogenate - something that has been homogenised.
Homogenised - made uniform in composition as a result of the blending of composite parts.
Human Tissue Act 2004 - new statutory framework regulating:
- the storage and use of bodies from the deceased
- the removal, storage and use of tissue from the deceased
- the storage and use of tissue from the living
Human Tissue Authority - the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) is the regulatory body that license and inspect to ensure compliance with the Human Tissue Act 2004.
Human Tissue Authority Licence - a licence issued by the Human Tissue Authority giving permission to an establishment to store relevant human tissue for certain scheduled purposes, including health related research.
Informed consent - a process whereby a prospective donor (or the donor's legally authorised representative) is provided with information to help understand the associated risks, rights and responsibilities of their voluntary participation or involvement in a proposed research study.
In vitro - an artificial environment created outside a living organism and used for experimental research within the laboratory.
Liquid nitrogen- the environment in which cryopreserved specimens are stored and shipped. The liquid phase of nitrogen is -196°C. Cryopreserved specimens are stored at this temperature in the laboratory.
Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) - an agreement outlining conditions under which the biosample is provided from Ethical Tissue to another biomedical research group for a specific use. The MTA addresses such issues as:
a) limits on the use of the bio-sample, b) confidentiality of information relating to the biosample, and publication restrictions, c) legal liability as a result of the use of the bio-sample or any results obtained, d) safe disposal of the bio-sample.
Microsome - a small particle in the cytoplasm of a cell, which is typically made up of fragmented endoplasmic reticulum with attached ribosomes.
Molecular biology - study of the structural and functional properties of biological systems in order to further the understanding of the roles and relationships of various molecules within the living cell.
Paraffin embedded - a method used for preserving biosamples which are first fixed in chemical formalin and then embedded in molten wax.
Perfuse - to pour or diffuse, for example, a liquid over or through something.
Proteomics - the study of proteins within a specific organism, tissue type, body fluid, cell or subcellular organelle to determine their physiological function in both health and disease.
Snap frozen - the submersion of a biosample in liquid nitrogen so that the frozen state is achieved within seconds.
Standard Operating Procedure- detailed, written instructions to achieve uniformity of the performance of a specific function.
Supply Agreement - please see Material Transfer Agreement.
Surgical resection - the surgical removal of all or part of an organ, tissue, or structure.
Tissue microarray (TMAs) - a single paraffin block in which up to 1000 separate tissue cores have been assembled so that simultaneous histological analysis can be carried out.
Translational research - biomedical research intended to translate knowledge derived from laboratory work (basic research) into clinical applications.
