Why surgical patients do not donate tissue for commercial research: review of records

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Abstract
Introduction The tissue bank at Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust provides a legal, ethical, and safe supply of human tissue mainly to the commercial biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. A trained research nurse interviews surgical patients, and, with consent, tissue surplus to diagnostic needs is collected and supplied to clients.1 2 We expected that commercial use of tissue might deter some patients from donating.1 We did the study primarily to find out why patients declined to donate tissue and whether involvement of commercial companies was an influencing factor. Other reviews of patient attitudes in this area have not concentrated on the commercial aspects of research.3 4 Footnotes Contributors ALJ did interviews. Both authors designed the study, collated the results, and wrote the paper. CW is guarantor. Funding Both authors are employed by the NHS. Cost of tissue acquisiton is recovered by agreements and contracts between Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust and commercial and academic clients. Competing interests Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust and commercial and academic clients could gain financially from research using human tissue. AJ and CW have received expenses and occasional fees from presentations. CW is a member of the medical advisory board of Pathlore (Pathlore took on responsibility for tissue processing for the tissue bank in December 2002 in a public-private partnership with Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust) and has done paid consultancy work for Capio group, Pharmagene, Celltech, and Medical Solutions (member of the ethics committee and share and warrant holder). CW has received travel sponsorship to a meeting in the United States from GlaxoSmithKline. CW presented this work at the CNIO Tumour Bank Meeting, Madrid, Spain, 13th December 2002. Ethical approval Peterborough Research Ethics Committee, January 1999, P96/3.