Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR): an embryonic and fetal tissue bank for functional genetics and cell-based research
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Biosciences Institute
Abstract
Birth defects occur in 3% of pregnancies and are responsible for 20% of infant deaths. They include conditions like spina bifida, hole-in-the-heart, and cleft lip and palate which pose often life-long medical problems for the child, caring challenges for the family, and a considerable financial burden for the health service. While pregnancy termination can be an option, the ultimate goal is to learn how birth defects develop in the embryo and fetus, so that preventive measures can be offered. These might involve vital nutrients like folic acid, or stem cell transplants which hold great promise for future disease treatment.
In addition, many rare diseases of both children and adults first arise owing to a problem during development of the fetus before birth. Researchers are increasingly finding faulty genes to be associated with such diseases, raising the possibility that genetic counselling and perhaps gene therapy might be offered in future. However, we need to understand how such genes function in the embryo and fetus, in order to move forward towards new methods of diagnosis and treatment. While research in animals can help in providing information on the origin of such diseases, there is ultimately no alternative to studying the processes in humans themselves.
The Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR) enables this vital research by providing scientists with access to material from human embryos and fetuses. The HDBR has ethical and Human Tissue Authority approval to collect, store and distribute human fetal material for research. The material is obtained, with informed consent after the woman has received professional counselling and decided to terminate the pregnancy. The samples are examined for stage of development and their chromosomes are tested to determine if they are normal. The tissues are then either sent to researchers for immediate preparation of cell cultures or biological molecules, or else the samples are frozen or otherwise preserved for later distribution to researchers. Sample details are recorded on a secure database that is anonymized, so no link to the donating women exists in the data. HDBR staff also carry out research work on the human material, on behalf of scientists, where this is required.
To date, over 400 different research projects have received material from the HDBR, and this has led to over 200 scientific papers being published. Discoveries have included genes that interact to cause Hirschsprung's disease (absent nerves in the bowel), an improved understanding of genes contributing to schizophrenia and the identification of genes for severe eye defects. In this way, scientists are using HDBR material to learn how genes contribute to human development and how mutations (mistakes) in these genes may lead to birth defects or rare diseases.
In the present proposal, the HDBR seeks further funding to pursue and extend its service to the international scientific community. New developments will include: (i) a focus on extending the collection to later fetal stages, as required for studies of human brain development; (ii) a new systematic collection of fetal material from pregnancies being terminated because of prenatally diagnosed birth defects, thereby allowing research into these diseases; (iii) expanding the tissue preparations that HDBR provides to researchers, to include material suitable for studies of the genetics of single cells, which is now becoming technically possible; (iv) the provision of 'hotel' facilities in our laboratories to enable researchers to be trained in best use of HDBR material; (v) a new linkage of data from genetics studies with our existing gene expression database (Human Developmental Studies Network; HuDSeN) which will for the first time allow scientists to observe how individual genes are expressed in the human embryo/fetus in relation to all the active genes and proteins that are present in that tissue or at that stage of development.
In addition, many rare diseases of both children and adults first arise owing to a problem during development of the fetus before birth. Researchers are increasingly finding faulty genes to be associated with such diseases, raising the possibility that genetic counselling and perhaps gene therapy might be offered in future. However, we need to understand how such genes function in the embryo and fetus, in order to move forward towards new methods of diagnosis and treatment. While research in animals can help in providing information on the origin of such diseases, there is ultimately no alternative to studying the processes in humans themselves.
The Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR) enables this vital research by providing scientists with access to material from human embryos and fetuses. The HDBR has ethical and Human Tissue Authority approval to collect, store and distribute human fetal material for research. The material is obtained, with informed consent after the woman has received professional counselling and decided to terminate the pregnancy. The samples are examined for stage of development and their chromosomes are tested to determine if they are normal. The tissues are then either sent to researchers for immediate preparation of cell cultures or biological molecules, or else the samples are frozen or otherwise preserved for later distribution to researchers. Sample details are recorded on a secure database that is anonymized, so no link to the donating women exists in the data. HDBR staff also carry out research work on the human material, on behalf of scientists, where this is required.
To date, over 400 different research projects have received material from the HDBR, and this has led to over 200 scientific papers being published. Discoveries have included genes that interact to cause Hirschsprung's disease (absent nerves in the bowel), an improved understanding of genes contributing to schizophrenia and the identification of genes for severe eye defects. In this way, scientists are using HDBR material to learn how genes contribute to human development and how mutations (mistakes) in these genes may lead to birth defects or rare diseases.
In the present proposal, the HDBR seeks further funding to pursue and extend its service to the international scientific community. New developments will include: (i) a focus on extending the collection to later fetal stages, as required for studies of human brain development; (ii) a new systematic collection of fetal material from pregnancies being terminated because of prenatally diagnosed birth defects, thereby allowing research into these diseases; (iii) expanding the tissue preparations that HDBR provides to researchers, to include material suitable for studies of the genetics of single cells, which is now becoming technically possible; (iv) the provision of 'hotel' facilities in our laboratories to enable researchers to be trained in best use of HDBR material; (v) a new linkage of data from genetics studies with our existing gene expression database (Human Developmental Studies Network; HuDSeN) which will for the first time allow scientists to observe how individual genes are expressed in the human embryo/fetus in relation to all the active genes and proteins that are present in that tissue or at that stage of development.
Technical Summary
The Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR; www.hdbr.org) is a human fetal tissue bank that provides the scientific community with: (i) High-quality materials from embryonic and early fetal stages (4-22 post-conception weeks; PCW), including tissues for cell culture, sub-organ-specific dissected regions for 'omics analysis, and slides for spatial gene expression studies; (ii) An In-House Gene Expression Service that undertakes studies for registered researchers; (iii) A unique web-based database (HuDSeN) for dissemination of human gene expression data spatially mapped to 3D models.
Since 1999, the Inst. Genetic Medicine, Newcastle and the Inst. Child Health, UCL have worked in partnership, developing the HDBR to support national and international research into human development. The 4-22 PCW period covers organogenesis when congenital disorders and many childhood/adult disorders originate. Research (e.g. 100,000 Genomes) is identifying ever-increasing numbers of disease-related genes and, while animal models can provide valuable mechanistic information, there is a growing need to access human fetal tissues for genetic and epigenetic research. Development of 'omics technologies, including at the single-cell level, and increasing use of stem and progenitor cell lines in tissue engineering, are further drivers for extending the HDBR tissue bank service.
To meet these growing demands, the HDBR proposes to augment the value of its tissue supply particularly in the older fetal age range, as increasingly required for brain development studies. Systematic collection will begin of tissues from fetuses with prenatally diagnosed congenital anomalies to support research in these diseases. New dissection/tissue preparation methods will cater for single cell 'omics projects, while 'hotel' facilities will be offered to teams wishing to train in use of HDBR material. 'Omics data locations will be linked to HuDSeN to enhance usefulness of the gene expression database.
Since 1999, the Inst. Genetic Medicine, Newcastle and the Inst. Child Health, UCL have worked in partnership, developing the HDBR to support national and international research into human development. The 4-22 PCW period covers organogenesis when congenital disorders and many childhood/adult disorders originate. Research (e.g. 100,000 Genomes) is identifying ever-increasing numbers of disease-related genes and, while animal models can provide valuable mechanistic information, there is a growing need to access human fetal tissues for genetic and epigenetic research. Development of 'omics technologies, including at the single-cell level, and increasing use of stem and progenitor cell lines in tissue engineering, are further drivers for extending the HDBR tissue bank service.
To meet these growing demands, the HDBR proposes to augment the value of its tissue supply particularly in the older fetal age range, as increasingly required for brain development studies. Systematic collection will begin of tissues from fetuses with prenatally diagnosed congenital anomalies to support research in these diseases. New dissection/tissue preparation methods will cater for single cell 'omics projects, while 'hotel' facilities will be offered to teams wishing to train in use of HDBR material. 'Omics data locations will be linked to HuDSeN to enhance usefulness of the gene expression database.
Planned Impact
The HDBR will have impact in the following ways:
Researchers in Academia: will benefit from HDBR's provision of hard-to-access human embryonic and fetal material, in-house gene expression service and support for interpretation of gene expression patterns and developmental anatomy. These enable researchers to answer questions on in vivo human development that would be impossible without access to these tissues. Researchers also benefit from HDBR's HuDSeN database, as a route to make their data publicly available and more widely accessible. The new "hotel facilities" and upgrades to the HDBR website will enable researchers to learn specialized techniques and dissections and gain knowledge of "tried-and-tested" reagents known to work well with HDBR material.
Translational and Clinical Researchers: will benefit from the range of services outlined above. Investigation of stem-cell based therapies for congenital or other disorders with a developmental origin rely on data from normal human development as the "gold standard" for assessing the accuracy of the cellular reagents being developed to replace/repair affected cells/tissues. Furthermore, there can be differences in tissue and organ development and/or prenatal function between human and animal models such as mouse. It is critical for research leading to other types of therapeutic agent (e.g. drugs) that the precise mechanisms used in human are characterized. Even subtle differences may reduce the efficacy or increase the harm of a potential treatment. There will be long-term benefit to patients through development of therapies based on this knowledge.
Students and Lecturers: under- and post-graduate students doing projects in the HDBR laboratories will benefit from research training and specialized knowledge about human development. Undergraduate students who are generating learning materials will gain both knowledge of the anatomy and developmental processes for the specific organ they work on, as well as methods for evaluating self-directed learning. More generally, medical and biomedical students will benefit from access to the learning materials available via the HuDSeN website. There has been a progressive decline in embryology teaching on medical courses in recent decades, and the HDBR's provision of visually instructive images and models of human development help to provide much-needed student resource. Lecturers and other teachers will benefit from access to the learning materials for use in their courses. By the end of the grant, it is expected that 3D- print-ready instructions and/or 3D printed models of individual organs will be available for use in teaching.
HDBR staff will themselves benefit from the research knowledge and skills of the HDBR registered users who take up the new "hotel facilities". They will also benefit from the public engagement activities they take part in as these require them to learn new skills and give them the opportunity to listen and respond to questions and discussion points from members of the public (adults and children). Career prospects for HDBR staff are greatly enhanced by authorship on publications arising from use of HDBR material, and we encourage such authorship where an HDBR staff member has made a significant contribution.
Members of the public: will benefit from the public engagement activities led by HDBR staff as well as the new exhibit developed for Life Science Centre. These will provide an opportunity to further their understanding and interest in human development and to discuss any concerns. A recent success for the HDBR was the provision of images to the Hong Kong Science Museum for its new "Distant relatives" exhibit in the Biodiversity Gallery (http://hk.science.museum/en_US/web/scm/pe/bdg/contents.html). The exhibition is part of the museum's response to the "United Nations Decade on Biodiversity", 2011-20, to raise public awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Researchers in Academia: will benefit from HDBR's provision of hard-to-access human embryonic and fetal material, in-house gene expression service and support for interpretation of gene expression patterns and developmental anatomy. These enable researchers to answer questions on in vivo human development that would be impossible without access to these tissues. Researchers also benefit from HDBR's HuDSeN database, as a route to make their data publicly available and more widely accessible. The new "hotel facilities" and upgrades to the HDBR website will enable researchers to learn specialized techniques and dissections and gain knowledge of "tried-and-tested" reagents known to work well with HDBR material.
Translational and Clinical Researchers: will benefit from the range of services outlined above. Investigation of stem-cell based therapies for congenital or other disorders with a developmental origin rely on data from normal human development as the "gold standard" for assessing the accuracy of the cellular reagents being developed to replace/repair affected cells/tissues. Furthermore, there can be differences in tissue and organ development and/or prenatal function between human and animal models such as mouse. It is critical for research leading to other types of therapeutic agent (e.g. drugs) that the precise mechanisms used in human are characterized. Even subtle differences may reduce the efficacy or increase the harm of a potential treatment. There will be long-term benefit to patients through development of therapies based on this knowledge.
Students and Lecturers: under- and post-graduate students doing projects in the HDBR laboratories will benefit from research training and specialized knowledge about human development. Undergraduate students who are generating learning materials will gain both knowledge of the anatomy and developmental processes for the specific organ they work on, as well as methods for evaluating self-directed learning. More generally, medical and biomedical students will benefit from access to the learning materials available via the HuDSeN website. There has been a progressive decline in embryology teaching on medical courses in recent decades, and the HDBR's provision of visually instructive images and models of human development help to provide much-needed student resource. Lecturers and other teachers will benefit from access to the learning materials for use in their courses. By the end of the grant, it is expected that 3D- print-ready instructions and/or 3D printed models of individual organs will be available for use in teaching.
HDBR staff will themselves benefit from the research knowledge and skills of the HDBR registered users who take up the new "hotel facilities". They will also benefit from the public engagement activities they take part in as these require them to learn new skills and give them the opportunity to listen and respond to questions and discussion points from members of the public (adults and children). Career prospects for HDBR staff are greatly enhanced by authorship on publications arising from use of HDBR material, and we encourage such authorship where an HDBR staff member has made a significant contribution.
Members of the public: will benefit from the public engagement activities led by HDBR staff as well as the new exhibit developed for Life Science Centre. These will provide an opportunity to further their understanding and interest in human development and to discuss any concerns. A recent success for the HDBR was the provision of images to the Hong Kong Science Museum for its new "Distant relatives" exhibit in the Biodiversity Gallery (http://hk.science.museum/en_US/web/scm/pe/bdg/contents.html). The exhibition is part of the museum's response to the "United Nations Decade on Biodiversity", 2011-20, to raise public awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Publications
Agraz-Doblas A
(2019)
Unraveling the cellular origin and clinical prognostic markers of infant B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia using genome-wide analysis.
in Haematologica
Ahmed M
(2019)
Laminin a2 controls mouse and human stem cell behaviour during midbrain dopaminergic neuron development.
in Development (Cambridge, England)
Akin L
(2022)
Pathogenic variants in RNPC3 are associated with hypopituitarism and primary ovarian insufficiency.
in Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics
Aldinger K
(2019)
Redefining the Etiologic Landscape of Cerebellar Malformations
in The American Journal of Human Genetics
Aldinger KA
(2021)
Spatial and cell type transcriptional landscape of human cerebellar development.
in Nature neuroscience
Alharatani R
(2019)
Expression of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor, RAPGEF5, during mouse and human embryogenesis.
in Gene expression patterns : GEP
Alves-Lopes J
(2023)
Specification of human germ cell fate with enhanced progression capability supported by hindgut organoids
in Cell Reports
Alzu'bi A
(2019)
Thalamocortical Afferents Innervate the Cortical Subplate much Earlier in Development in Primate than in Rodent.
in Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
Alzu'bi A
(2019)
Expression of ventral telencephalon transcription factors ASCL1 and DLX2 in the early fetal human cerebral cortex.
in Journal of anatomy
Alzu'bi A
(2020)
Selective Expression of Nicotinic Receptor Sub-unit mRNA in Early Human Fetal Forebrain.
in Frontiers in molecular neuroscience
Anderson R
(2024)
Cardiac development demystified by use of the HDBR atlas
in Journal of Anatomy
Anderson R
(2023)
Development of the arterial roots and ventricular outflow tracts
in Journal of Anatomy
Anderson RH
(2022)
The morphogenesis of abnormal coronary arteries in the congenitally malformed heart.
in The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
Badat M
(2023)
Direct correction of haemoglobin E ß-thalassaemia using base editors.
in Nature communications
Bantounas I
(2021)
The miR-199a/214 Cluster Controls Nephrogenesis and Vascularization in a Human Embryonic Stem Cell Model.
in Stem cell reports
Barnes J
(2023)
Early human lung immune cell development and its role in epithelial cell fate
in Science Immunology
Beaman GM
(2022)
Narrowing the chromosome 22q11.2 locus duplicated in bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex.
in Journal of pediatric urology
Beaman GM
(2022)
Expanding the HPSE2 Genotypic Spectrum in Urofacial Syndrome, A Disease Featuring a Peripheral Neuropathy of the Urinary Bladder.
in Frontiers in genetics
Beesley M
(2021)
COVID-19 and vertical transmission: assessing the expression of ACE2/TMPRSS2 in the human fetus and placenta to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection
in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Bhaduri A
(2020)
Cell stress in cortical organoids impairs molecular subtype specification.
in Nature
Buonocore F
(2019)
Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Novel Genetic Variants (SRY, DMRT1, NR5A1, DHH, DHX37) in Adults With 46,XY DSD.
in Journal of the Endocrine Society
C M
(2019)
Characterization of human adrenal steroidogenesis during fetal development
in Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology
Cameron D
(2023)
Single-Nuclei RNA Sequencing of 5 Regions of the Human Prenatal Brain Implicates Developing Neuron Populations in Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia.
in Biological psychiatry
Campinoti S
(2020)
Reconstitution of a functional human thymus by postnatal stromal progenitor cells and natural whole-organ scaffolds
in Nature Communications
Cardoso-Moreira M
(2019)
Gene expression across mammalian organ development
in Nature
Chatterjee S
(2023)
RET enhancer haplotype-dependent remodeling of the human fetal gut development program
in PLOS Genetics
Clarke T
(2022)
Sulfation Pathways During Neurodevelopment
in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
Collin J
(2021)
A single cell atlas of human cornea that defines its development, limbal progenitor cells and their interactions with the immune cells.
in The ocular surface
Coolen M
(2022)
Recessive PRDM13 mutations cause fatal perinatal brainstem dysfunction with cerebellar hypoplasia and disrupt Purkinje cell differentiation
in The American Journal of Human Genetics
Crosse EI
(2020)
Multi-layered Spatial Transcriptomics Identify Secretory Factors Promoting Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development.
in Cell stem cell
Crump N
(2023)
MLL-AF4 cooperates with PAF1 and FACT to drive high-density enhancer interactions in leukemia
in Nature Communications
Cummings BB
(2020)
Transcript expression-aware annotation improves rare variant interpretation.
in Nature
D'Souza SW
(2021)
Maternal Inositol Status and Neural Tube Defects: A Role for the Human Yolk Sac in Embryonic Inositol Delivery?
in Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)
Del Valle I
(2023)
An integrated single-cell analysis of human adrenal cortex development.
in JCI insight
Desiderio S
(2019)
Prdm12 Directs Nociceptive Sensory Neuron Development by Regulating the Expression of the NGF Receptor TrkA.
in Cell reports
Devlin LA
(2020)
Embryonic and foetal expression patterns of the ciliopathy gene CEP164.
in PloS one
Doan RN
(2019)
Recessive gene disruptions in autism spectrum disorder.
in Nature genetics
Drissi I
(2022)
Mutations in phospholipase C eta-1 (PLCH1) are associated with holoprosencephaly.
in Journal of medical genetics
Eigel D
(2021)
Sulfonated cryogel scaffolds for focal delivery in ex-vivo brain tissue cultures.
in Biomaterials
Elmentaite R
(2021)
Cells of the human intestinal tract mapped across space and time.
in Nature
Elmentaite R
(2021)
Cells of the human intestinal tract mapped across space and time
| Title | BHF Annual Reflections of Research Image Competition |
| Description | Two HDBR scientists, Moira Crosier and Jasmin Turner, were shortlisted for the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) annual 'Reflections of Research' image competition. The competition challenges British Heart Foundation-funded scientists to put forward the most awe-inspiring image taken as part of their research into cardiovascular health and disease. Each picture offers an insight into their crucial work. The 'embryonic human heart' was submitted by Moira Crosier, a researcher involved in a BHF-funded study at Newcastle University. 'Development and remodelling of the human fetal valves' was submitted by Jasmin Turner, a Research Associate with the HDBR and a PhD student in Cardiac Development at Newcastle University. |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Our research is focused on uncovering the mysteries of how an organ as complex as the heart is formed. If we know how a healthy heart develops, we know what can go wrong to cause devastating heart diseases in both children and adults. Pictures like this one are helping us understand more and more about how the human heart develops. We hope this growing source of information can be used to prevent CHDs in the future. |
| URL | https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2023/10/reflectionsofresearch/ |
| Title | HDBR - Winners of bake your research 2023 |
| Description | asmin Turner and Lynne Overman, HDBR experimental scientific officers, took place in this years 'bake your research' event hosted by Newcastle University. A total of 6 fantastic entries were submitted, but it was Team HDBR who took the trophy home! The bake named 'HDBR - At the Heart of the Matter' is a three-tiered chocolate cake, the three layers representing human, mouse and zebrafish. Although we have gained understanding of how we develop through animal models, very little is known about how these processes compare in the developing human. The HDBR aims to contribute towards this gap in knowledge, and facilitate validation studies in order to produce better, and more accurate models of disease. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Ask Steve/Jasmin |
| URL | http://hdbr.org/news/85/hdbr-winners-of-bake-your-research-2023 |
| Title | HDBR image featured on the front cover of March 2024 Journal of Anatomy |
| Description | An image by HDBR experimental scientific officer, Moira Crosier, has been featured on the front cover of March 2024 Journal of Anatomy. The article 'Development of the Arterial Roots and Ventricular Outflow Tracts' by Anderson et al describes the detailed anatomical changes during the overall remodelling of mouse and human embryonic hearts during development. Until now, the separation of the outflow tract of the developing heart into systemic and pulmonary arterial channels remained poorly understood. The publication has used high resolution human embryonic and fetal tissue sections provided by the Human Developmental Biology Resource and experimental data carried out by our In House Gene Expression Service. |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | An image by HDBR experimental scientific officer, Moira Crosier, has been featured on the front cover of March 2024 Journal of Anatomy. |
| URL | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joa.13973 |
| Description | Co-authored a paper outlining the need for international consensus on standards for informed consent when consenting donors for fetal tissue research - 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.05.013 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | When consenting donors for human fetal tissue research, researchers now have an agreed minimal standard to work to. This helps researchers working in countries where such procedures are unregulated, to follow similar procedures to those researchers where these practise are more tightly regulated, thus ensuring a more standardised approach is taken by all researchers working in this field. |
| URL | https://www.isscr.org/docs/default-source/policy-documents/isscr_informedconsentstandardforhumanfeta... |
| Description | Ethical considerations of neural organoids - Nuffield Council on Bioethics |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Human fetal tissue informed consent Task Force |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
| Impact | The main outcome from the the task force was to produce an International Informed Consent Standard for Human Fetal Tissue Donation. This document will be communicated to the research committee through journal publication with the ambition that that these minimum standards will be adopted and implemented by researchers when consenting women to donate fetal tissue to research across the globe. |
| Description | Suggested amendment to Human Tissue Authority list of relevant materials |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | All researchers in England and Wales working with human fetal tissue collected from terminations of pregnancy are now in no doubt that the tissue falls within the remit of the HTA and is regulated as such. |
| URL | https://www.hta.gov.uk/guidance-professionals/hta-legislation/materials-considered-relevant-material... |
| Description | The Atlas website as a teaching resource |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://hdbratlas.org |
| Description | Human Developmental Biology Initiative |
| Amount | £6,148,973 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Description | Human Developmental Biology Resource: support for Human Cell Atlas |
| Amount | £743,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/S036334/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | VACS 23 - GS Summer Studentship 2023 |
| Amount | £3,150 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Genetics Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2023 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust funded Institutional Strategic Support Fund |
| Amount | £9,829 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 02/2020 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust funded Institutional Strategic Support Fund |
| Amount | £9,829 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Title | Human embryos and tissue |
| Description | During the last 12 months, HDBR have registered 62 new research projects from 8 different countries. A total of 2437 tissue samples were released from the tissue bank (Newcastle HDBR 889, London HDBR 1548) and 792 slides (Newcastle HDBR 654, London HDBR 138). |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | See publications list for this award. |
| URL | https://www.hdbr.org |
| Title | Human embryos and tissue |
| Description | During the last 12 months, HDBR have registered 67 new research projects from 9 different countries. A total of 2454 tissue samples were released from the tissue bank (Newcastle HDBR 846, London HDBR 1608) and 1074 slides (Newcastle HDBR 683, London HDBR 391). |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | See publications list for this award. |
| URL | https://www.hdbr.org |
| Title | human embryos and embryonic tissues |
| Description | human embryos between Carnegie stage 8 and 20 post conceptional weeks supplied in a variety of forms including whole embryos, dissected organs/tissues, isolated cells, tissue on sections and nucleic acids (RNA/DNA) In the past 12 months we have registered 70 new projects with the HDBR. Newcastle have sent 2219 tissue samples (4515 across both sites) from material collected in that period, and 524 tissues (761 across both sites) from 'archived' material. In addition, we have sent 1587 microscope slides (1992 across both sites). |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | this is used widely by the research community for a number or purposes - see publications for outputs |
| Title | human embryos and tissues |
| Description | In the last 12 months we have registered 72 new projects from 13 different countries. We released 2864 tissue samples to research projects (L-1717, N-1147), 1580 slides (L-284, N-1296), 10 RNA samples (Newcastle only) and 10 cDNA samples (Newcastle only). |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | see publications list froths award |
| URL | http://www.hdbr.org |
| Title | HDBR Atlas |
| Description | The HuDSeN Atlas site has now been renamed the HDBR Atlas. The web-pages have undergone a reorganisation and new content has been added to the "Organ Systems" section. This includes new sections on 3D models of brain and cardiovascular development. The latter contains 3D models of heart development, annotated images of heart histology sections and images of dissected fetal hearts. The section on abnormal embryos has been expanded to include movies of embryos with Down's and Turner's syndrome, Triploidy and Neural Tube Defects. Four new 3D fetal models (8, 9, 10 and 11PCW) have been generated from Micro-CT scans. The high resolution eHistology Viewer now contains images from 7 embryonic stages from CS14 to CS23. Gene Expression Database: 619 gene expression images have been archived to the Image Data Resource (https://idr.openmicroscopy.org/). These correspond to 18 genes across 18 stages of development from CS13 to 17PCW. Intellectual Property: HDBR has generated a series of unique 3D models throughout early human development. These models can be shared with other researchers but the copyright will be protected by a material transfer agreement. Education: The HDBR Atlas 3D visualisations of the developing gastro-intestinal tract have been used by colleagues in the School of Medical Education as part of the embryology curriculum for medical students. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2009 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Atlas: There have been 5341 site visits - approximately double the number of hits from 2018. Gene Expression Database: There have been 4449 visits to the database site (http://www.biomedatlas.org/hudsenwebapp/pages/hudsen_home.jsf) |
| URL | http://www.hdbratlas.org/ |
| Title | HDBR Atlas Website |
| Description | The HDBR Atlas site continues to be improved and updated. The high resolution eHistology Viewer now contains 12 sets of images from CS12 to CS23. A section on staging has been added along with information on how to submit data to the atlas. The site has had an SSL certificate added to make it more secure. A copyright license agreement has been drawn up to allow the 3D reconstructions and histology images to be made publicly available. Education: The Atlas and IDR websites were demonstrated as part of an undergraduate online workshop on Genetics of Development and its Disorders. The Atlas continues to be used by colleagues in the School of Medical Education as part of the embryology curriculum for Newcastle medical students. We have also been contacted by academics in Bilbao, California and Quebec who are using the HDBR Atlas resources for teaching. We have sent the University of Auckland the 3D brain reconstructions which will be 3D printed as part of a student project. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2009 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | There have been approximately 4800 visits to the Atlas site since March 2021. |
| URL | https://hdbratlas.org |
| Title | HDBR Atlas Website |
| Description | The HDBR Atlas site has been completely redesigned and rebuilt to make it easier to navigate and link to individual pages. The high resolution eHistology Viewer now contains 11 sets of images from CS12 to CS23. The cardiovascular system has been expanded to include 3 new sets of annotated H&E images at CS14, CS18 and CS22. A new section on the visual system has been added with data submitted by Prof. Linda Lako at Newcastle University. The Central Nervous System section has been extended to include gene expression images in the developing spinal cord, submitted by Prof James Briscoe at the Francis Crick institute, London. Three new 3D models (CS22, CS23 and 13pcw) have been generated from Micro-CT scans. Ten High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy datasets have been reconstructed into 3D models (stages CS12 to CS18) All the HDBR embryonic and fetal 3D models (approximately 300) have been converted to the Amira format. Education: The Atlas and IDR websites were demonstrated as part of an undergraduate online workshop on Genetics of Development and its Disorders. The Atlas continues to be used by colleagues in the School of Medical Education as part of the embryology curriculum for Newcastle medical students with the resources being embedded into online tutorials during the pandemic. We have also been contacted by academics in Dublin and in Pakistan who are using the HDBR Atlas resources for teaching. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2009 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | There have been over 4000 visits to the HDBR atlas site since March 2020. |
| URL | http://hdbratlas.org |
| Title | HDBR Atlas Website |
| Description | The eHistology section now contains 32 sets of high-resolution images from Carnegie stage 10 to 11 post conception weeks. 3D interactive models with defined anatomical regions have been generated for Carnegie Stages 19 to 22. A new section with animations and diagrams of developmental processes has been added, contributed by Professor José García Monterde, Cordoba, Spain. The Cardiovascular System section of the website has been expanded to include images of embryonic and fetal hearts from CS10 to 17 weeks post conception. These Images were provided by Dr Heather Etchevers, Marseilles, France. A new section has been created to host interactive 3D pdfs generated by Dr Jill Hikspoors and Professor Wouter Lamers, Maastricht, The Netherlands. These pdfs illustrate the development of the cardiovascular system during the embryonic period. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2009 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The HDBR Atlas continues to be improved and updated and is now receiving over 1500 visits per month. |
| URL | https://hdbratlas.org |
| Title | HDBR Atlas website |
| Description | The HDBR Atlas continues to be improved and updated. Search Engine Optimisation has been carried out which has resulted in the Atlas site appearing at the top of the first page of results for the search terms "Human Embryo" and "Embryo Atlas". The Cardiovascular System section of the website has been expanded to include annotated H&E sections from CS11 to CS23, along with interactive 3D models of the developing heart chambers. New pages have been added to the Nervous System section to host gene expression images of the developing spinal cord, submitted by Professor Kate Storey in Dundee. A new page has been added with immunohistochemistry for two important SARS-CoV-2 entry proteins, submitted by Dr Mattia Gerli at UCL. 3D interactive models with defined anatomical regions have been generated for Carnegie Stages 11 to 18. We have received requests to download the Atlas resources from academics and researchers in the UK, The Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Iceland and Ecuador. Education: The Atlas and IDR websites were demonstrated as part of Newcastle University undergraduate online workshop on Genetics of Development and its Disorders. The Atlas continues to be used by colleagues in the Newcastle School of Medical Education as part of the embryology curriculum. The Atlas resources are also being used for teaching in Ireland, Argentina, India and Iceland. Mouse images are now being added for comparative studies. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2009 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | There have been over 5500 visits to the HDBR Atlas site since March 2022. The website ranks in the top results for Google searches "Human Embryo" and "Embryo Atlas" |
| URL | https://hdbratlas.org |
| Title | HDBR Atlas: Gene Expression in Early Human Development |
| Description | Gene expression studies in early human development from 3 to 17 post conceptional weeks (PCW). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The Image Data Resource gene expression data has now been published and contains over 4500 gene expression images covering stages CS12 to 17 post conceptional weeks. https://doi.org/10.17867/10000137 |
| URL | https://idr.openmicroscopy.org/webclient/?show=project-1104 |
| Title | HDBR Atlas: Gene Expression in Early Human Development |
| Description | Gene expression studies in early human development from 3 to 19 post conceptional weeks. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The Image Data Resource dataset contains approximately 1000 gene expression images covering stages CS11 to 19 post conception weeks. |
| URL | https://idr.openmicroscopy.org/webclient/?show=project-2151 |
| Title | HuDSeN |
| Description | The Human Developmental Studies Network (HuDSeN) aims to provide a forum for researchers in human developmental biology and related fields to meet and establish links. 90 new entries have been made to the HuDSeN human gene expression spatial database in the past year. These correspond to 24 genes (4 of which - DONSON, GFAP, NR2F2 and ZNF804 are novel) across 17 stages of development from CS12 to 17pcw. 3 sets of high resolution H&E images have been added to the HuDSeN atlas of the developing human. In addition, a new eHistology viewer has been added to the Atlas site which now contains CS16, CS17, CS18 and CS19 datasets |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2009 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | There have been 5572 page views on the database site There have been 2371 visits to the Atlas site |
| URL | http://www.hudsen.eu |
| Title | RNASeq data for human embryonic arterial valves |
| Description | RNASeq data for human arterial valves from embryos between 16 and CS19 GEO reference: GSE244723 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | none as yet |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSM7825035 |
| Title | human embryonic heart sections |
| Description | Annotated Haematoxylin and Eosin sections of the developing human heart |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | "hits" to the HDBR web site are counted and recently have exceeded 1500 per month |
| URL | https://hdbratlas.org/organ-systems/cardiovascular-system/heart/heart-HE.html |
| Description | HDBI |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | HDBR is the major tissue provider to the HDBI |
| Collaborator Contribution | the other partners will use the tissue we provide in their research |
| Impact | none to date |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | HDBR (Ncl) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | since I became Director of the HDBR in August 2019, my research group has begun to work closely with eh HHBR - this is a two way process, the information and skills passing in both directions my research team has provided expertise on cardiac development and anatomy to the HDBR, as well as some reagents |
| Collaborator Contribution | HDBR has provided expertise on general human development and data sets that have been useful for our analyses |
| Impact | none to date |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | HDBR UCL |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | HDBR is jointly held between Newcastle and Institute of Child Health, UCL |
| Collaborator Contribution | Newcastle and UCL make an equal contribution to the functions of the HDBR |
| Impact | all outputs are joint with UCL |
| Description | MRC- HCA |
| Organisation | Human Cell Atlas |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | HDBR is the major tissue provider to the MRC-funded Human Developmental Cell Atlas - a component of the HCA |
| Collaborator Contribution | The other partners generate and analyse the transcriptomic data generated |
| Impact | Add any publications from MRC_HCA projects 200392 200399 200402 200411 200412 200416 200419 200429 200431 200433 200462 200479 200502 |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Mouse Genetics Network - Congenital Anomalies Cluster |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Department | Dental Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My research team is a core member of the cluster whose goal is to make new improved mouse models of human congenital abnormalities |
| Collaborator Contribution | there are 5 cluster members, each makes a significant contribution to the |
| Impact | various mouse models are in production Cardiac geneborree - meeting in November 2023 |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | National Mouse Genetics Network - Congenital Anomalies Cluster |
| Organisation | MRC Harwell |
| Department | MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My research team is a core member of the cluster whose goal is to make new improved mouse models of human congenital abnormalities |
| Collaborator Contribution | there are 5 cluster members, each makes a significant contribution to the |
| Impact | various mouse models are in production Cardiac geneborree - meeting in November 2023 |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | National Mouse Genetics Network - Congenital Anomalies Cluster |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My research team is a core member of the cluster whose goal is to make new improved mouse models of human congenital abnormalities |
| Collaborator Contribution | there are 5 cluster members, each makes a significant contribution to the |
| Impact | various mouse models are in production Cardiac geneborree - meeting in November 2023 |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | National Mouse Genetics Network - Congenital Anomalies Cluster |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My research team is a core member of the cluster whose goal is to make new improved mouse models of human congenital abnormalities |
| Collaborator Contribution | there are 5 cluster members, each makes a significant contribution to the |
| Impact | various mouse models are in production Cardiac geneborree - meeting in November 2023 |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | HDBR/Amira Package |
| Description | We have liaised with Thermo Fisher Scientific to develop a new software package for Amira. This package is unique to HDBR and allows us to define arbitrary planes in the 3D models and gives us the ability to map 2D gene expression patterns into the 3D models. We have moved away from the obsolete Linux-based software we were using, and the new software package will guarantee that we can view and manipulate the 3D models on Windows PC into the future. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Without the software we were in danger of losing the ability to map gene expression patterns into the 3D HDBR models. This ability to map to the models is what makes the HDBR Atlas unique. The software package will have a huge impact both within the HDBR group and more widely with students and collaborators, guaranteeing the future-proofing of the collection of the 300+ 3D embryonic and fetal models. |
| Description | Academic Conference - Genetics of Reproduction, Genetics Society Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a poster at the Genetics Society Genetics of Reproduction Conference on the 18th Of November 2022 where 100 researchers gathered from around the globe to discuss reproduction and the genetic influences involved. This fostered many potential collaborations and hopefully lead to a deeper understanding of the science for all involved. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Advising The embryo development and birth defects bioresource at School of Medicine Zhejiang University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Advising the embryo development and birth defects bioresource at the Clinical Research Center, Women's Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University on technical, management and governance queries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zju.edu.cn%2Fenglish%2F2018%2F... |
| Description | Atlas User Feedback Questionnaire |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A questionnaire has been sent to all contact in the HDBR mailing list to advertise the updated Atlas site and to get feedback from the wider community about which aspects are most useful, and what additional content would be helpful in an online resource. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Bake your research 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Jasmin Turner and Lynne Overman, HDBR experimental scientific officers, took place in this years 'bake your research' event hosted by Newcastle University. A total of 6 fantastic entries were submitted, but it was Team HDBR who took the trophy home! The bake named 'HDBR - At the Heart of the Matter' is a three-tiered chocolate cake, the three layers representing human, mouse and zebrafish. Although we have gained understanding of how we develop through animal models, very little is known about how these processes compare in the developing human. The HDBR aims to contribute towards this gap in knowledge, and facilitate validation studies in order to produce better, and more accurate models of disease. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Cardiac Geneboree - From Cardiac Gene Variant to Mouse Model |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Meeting/workshop to discuss how to improve outcomes from genetic studies into congenital heart defects - engaged with developmental biology researchers, geneticists, cardiologists etc |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://nmgn.mrc.ukri.org/news/congenital-anomalies-cardiovascular-geneboree-23rd-and-24th-of-novemb... |
| Description | Centre for Biomedical Engineering Summer Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Moira Crosier, HDBR experimental scientific officer, attended the Centre for Biomedical Engineering Summer Meeting which took place at The Core, Newcastle Helix, on 21 June 2023 and represented the HDBR with a stand and poster advertising the services HDBR can provide to increase visibility cross discipline at Newcastle University and also to attending private enterprises. The visit was a success and HDBR have been invited to give a more formal and detailed talk at the next meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Ethics lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 5 December - Gave a lecture on the ethics of early human tissue research to undergraduate course module BGM3062 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | European Developmental Biology Congress 2023 (EDBC 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Nadia Moreno, a member of the HDBR team in London, presented a poster promoting HDBR's services at the European Developmental Biology Congress 2023 (EDBC 2023) at Keble College, Oxford. This quadrennial gathering brings together developmental biologists from across Europe to discuss the latest advances in the field. This year, the conference spanned three countries: the United Kingdom (Oxford), France (Paris), and Spain (Barcelona). This expanded geographical scope offers a unique opportunity to raise awareness of all the services that HDBR can provide to potential users. In addition to convening developmental biologists from across Europe to discuss the latest advances in the field, the meeting also featured talks by the winners of the 2023 BSDB (British Society for Developmental Biology) awards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Genetics Matters |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We demonstrated models of human embryos (on-screen and 3D printed) and websites to members of the public as part of the Newcastle Genetics Matters Day in February. There were approximately 70 people attending and the images and models seemed to be well received and provoked a lot of questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Genetics Matters |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We demonstrated models of human embryos (on screen and 3D printed) and websites to members of the public as part of the Newcastle Genetics Matters Day in February. There were approximately 85 people attending and the images and models seemed to be well received and provoked a lot of questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Genetics Matters 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Two members of the Human Developmental Biology Resource (Jasmin E. Turner and Tamil Dhanaseelan) attended the 2023 genetics matters event, a flagship engagement event hosted by the faculty of medical sciences at Newcastle University, hosting a research table in which 100 members of the general public participated in questions and discussions around our research area. From this, students have contacted the resource who are interested in doing placements with us. Furthermore, rare disease patients had an opportunity to ask questions and understand the important, cutting edge research that is currently being conducted. The most significant outcome from this event is sharing scientific advancements with the general public, in addition to students involved in medicine expressing interest in the Human Developmental Biology resource. This event also provides an important networking opportunity with others directly involved in rare disease research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Genetics Matters 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | public engagement event on the topic of genetic disease |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ncl.ac.uk/events/noticeboard/item/geneticsmattersevent1868.html |
| Description | Guidelines - stem cell based embryo models (G-SCBEM) working group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Guidelines - stem cell based embryo models (G-SCBEM) working group is ongoing, but anticipate plans made for future related activity, decision made or influenced, change in views, opinions or behaviours. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | HDBI research talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Jasmin was invited to give a talk to the Human Developmental Biology Initiative (HDBI) Insights Group; made up of a non-specialist and specialist audience. Jasmin presented her doctoral research 'Development and Remodelling of the Human Heart Valves' and was voted as the winning talk by the audience. Her prize was a pop art portrait. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | HDBR Project Review Committee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Established a working group to discuss and review project registrations received by the HDBR that involved the use of IPSCs or organoid models of development and disease. As there is currently a gap in the legal and governace framework surrounding these research topics, a group was formed who have expereince of this field to ensure the reputaion of all stakeholders invoved in this work are upheld and the donors participation has been fully considered. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | HDBR highlighted at Newcastle University facilities showcase event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The materials and services provided by the HDBR was highlighted at a Newcastle University Facility Showcase event - Analytical technologies on your doorstep - on November 14 2022. The majority of teh audience members were for industry, looking to discover what opportunities existed to work alongside the University's facilities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | HDBR materials and services |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was made at a Development Symposium on Wednesday 25 January at the Old Library, Newcastle University to highlight the materials and services HDBR can provide to help support researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | HDBR tissue bank overview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An overview of the HDBR tissue bank was given to researchers and health care professional as part of Newcastle University's Reproduction, Development and Child Health Research theme on 26 April. This presentation described the material HDBR provides and discussed some of the challenges involved in collecting this tissue. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Hosting Professor Misao Fujita, a visiting ethicist from Japan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | HDBR hosted Professor Misao Fujita, a visiting ethicist from Japan, who amongst other things was comparing the different practices, legalities and governance framework and ethical concerns of a fetal tissue bank in the UK compared to Japan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | ICH Public Engagement Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Member of ICH Public Engagement focus group at ICH; organised and promoted a Public Engagement Showcase with at least 44 registered attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Joint Newcastle University and Northumbria University TechNet Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Aragorn Jones, HDBR Experimental Scientific Officer, participated in the joint Newcastle University and Northumbria University TechNet event on the 18th of October 2023. The event centred around better utilising technical expertise at both universities and increasing cooperation in research and beyond. Talks from heads of the Technician Commitment and Vice Chancellors begun the day, with many aims and goals being set out. The afternoon had many open discussions on topics such as technicians applying for grants, sustainability, outreach, and apprenticeships. Take aways from the meeting included setting up special interest groups across the universities to increase collaboration, and creating a list of funding available to technicians. Technet will meet again in 6 months and HDBR are looking forward to attend again and continue to foster collaborations in the region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Kyoto University seminar presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Centre for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University (4 March 2022) - presented a seminar at the 'Fetal Tissue Research: Science and Ethics at the Frontiers in the United States and Europe' symposium. The presentation detailed the HDBR tissue bank and the governance structure in the UK surrounding collecting and working with human fetal material. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ashbi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/events/science-ethics-seminar_220302/ |
| Description | Lecture- "Seeing genes: An introduction to Spatial transcriptomics". |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Gave a lecture on 13 October 2023 for the Enabling Technologies and Methodologies for Biomedical Research (MMB8053) MSc module "Seeing genes: An introduction to Spatial transcriptomics". The lecture outened the pros and cons of the currently available platforms for preforming spatial transcriptomics analysis, their limitations and examples of the data that can be obtained from each technique. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Lecture: "Seeing genes: An introduction to Spatial transcriptomics" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Gave a lecture for the Enabling Technologies and Methodologies for Biomedical Research (MMB8053) MSc module "Seeing genes: An introduction to Spatial transcriptomics". The lecture outened the pros and cons of the currently available platforms for preforming spatial transcriptomics analysis, their limitations and examples of the data that can be obtained from each technique. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | MSc course lecture - QMUL Lecture on Biobanking. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Educational 1.5 hour lecture - QMUL Lecture on Biobanking. MSc course on - Genomics: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Newcastle Biobank Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Biobank Network was developed and created by the HDBR, designed to bring together researchers who are involved at the operational level of Biobanking. The aim of the forum is to provide a platform, enabling staff to work together, enhance best lab practice, create a gold standard, and share individual expertise. Moreover, the Biobank Network acts as an efficient way for PI's and Persons Designated (PD's) to circulate important information and key HTA changes to the wider target audience. The Biobank Network will be a permanent feature in the HTA newsletter at Newcastle University and is continuing to grow in membership numbers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Oral presentation at the annual British Society of Abortion Care Practitioners conference. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Delivered an oral presentation about the HDBR and results of our survey of patient experience of being presented with the option to donate to the HDBR. The event provided opportunity to network with ACP's at all levels. Through this, an additional recruitment site will be set up at St Marys Hospital Imperial NHS Trust and we have attended management meeting with NUPAS (National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service) with an eye in the future to consent donations from their clients. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Panellist, MRC Neurodevelopment Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Panel discussion on the use of human tissue in research (at the Francis Crick Institute). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bit.bio%2Fevents%2Fmrc-human-n... |
| Description | Presentation - INCITE programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Participated in the INCITE programme by delivering a life experience presentation to 16 year old from underprivileged backgrounds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Provide expertise on establishing and running biobanks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Trained then overseen 2 biobanks (CHOIR and Living airway biobanks ) on how to complete their annual audit of HTA relevant samples. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-tissue/hta-biobanks/ucl-institute-of-child-health |
| Description | Seminar: Power of Spatial Transcriptomics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a lecture at a seminar for trainee medcial students in the field of digital pathology - 'Big data from small tissues: how can we use this to improve health outcomes?'. The lecture, 'Power of Spatial Transcriptomics' explored oppertunities for spatial transcriptomics analysis to be used in personalised medicine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Special Interest Group - Spatial Transcriptomics and Multi-plexed Imaging |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Established a special interest group (SIG) to bring together all users and interested researchers in the fields of Spatial Transcriptomics and muti-plexed RNA In Situ assays. The SIG organises seminars to introduce new technologies and platforms, and plans to run workshops in analysis and best practice of existing methodologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | The HDBI Consortium, January 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Bi-annually, internal HDBI members meet to present research and engage in activities to enhance our research and engagements abilities with the general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | UCL MSc Student Lecture (GENE0001) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a one hour educational lecture - UCL MSc Student Lecture (GENE0001: Human Genetics Core Skills- Introduction to Biobanks and Why They are Important for Research). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |