Biorepository Network

The Network provides governance support for access to tissues that are held within NHS Diagnostic archives, which includes tissue held within NHS diagnostic archives, including NHS pathology and NHS blood sciences.

Aims of the programme

• To develop a unified, national tissue management system for Scotland that standardises how human tissue is accessed, managed, and governed.
• Build a centralised portal where researchers can submit one application, access tissue across multiple regions and reduce duplication.
• Ensure all activity aligns with accreditation requirements, Human Tissue Authority standards, to provide full transparency and traceability of tissue use.

HIC's role

The Health Informatics Centre (HIC) led the design, development, and implementation of a unified national tissue management platform across Scotland.

Working in close partnership with biorepository leads, HIC translated complex user and governance requirements into a modern, intuitive digital system. This replaced previously fragmented and outdated processes with a single, streamlined platform.

HIC acted as both a technical delivery partner and strategic facilitator, ensuring that the system met the operational needs of multiple NHS regions while aligning with national regulatory frameworks. In addition, HIC provides ongoing system development, maintenance, and user support, ensuring the platform remains reliable, scalable, and adaptable to future research demands.

Impact

HIC’s work has delivered measurable improvements to the management and accessibility of human tissue for research across Scotland:

• National Platform Implementation: HIC developed and deployed a national tissue management system, now live across Glasgow, Grampian, and Tayside, with Lothian scheduled to join.
• Standardised Application Process: Through HIC’s platform, a single, harmonised application process has been introduced, enabling researchers to request tissue samples and associated services (including histology, genotyping, and biobanking) across all participating regions.
• Reduced Administrative Burden: HIC eliminated the need for multiple submissions to different sites by enabling one application to be distributed across all network nodes, significantly improving efficiency and reducing duplication.
• Improved Governance and Compliance: The platform designed by HIC aligns with Human Tissue Authority standards and supports NRS accreditation requirements, including a structured three-year audit cycle.

Conclusion

Through its leadership in designing and delivering a national digital infrastructure, HIC has transformed how human tissue research is governed and accessed in Scotland. By enabling standardisation, improving efficiency, and ensuring regulatory compliance, HIC has established a scalable platform that supports high-quality, collaborative medical research across the NHS.