about

ABOUT US

The mission of the UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre (UKCRC TDCC) is to maximise the use, value and impact of the UK's human sample resources in the UK, and beyond. The UKCRC TDCC will do this by creating a world-leading, research-enabling, and networked biobanking infrastructure to facilitate the discovery and use of the UK's human samples and data.

Run by a dedicated team across the University of Nottingham and University College London, the creation of the UKCRC TDCC was mandated by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration via their Vision for Human Tissue Resources. The UKCRC TDCC works to help researchers discover samples and data, help sample resources improve their data systems for sharing, and harmonise policy relating to the discovery and use of samples and data.

The work of the UKCRC TDCC is guided by the belief that the biomedical research ecosystem should be based on open standards, open-science, and pre-competitive collaboration.

As a coordinating centre, we don't hold any human samples ourselves and, as such, are not in a position to receive sample donations.

HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

pipetting

We help researchers

Our work helps researchers find expertise and relevant samples to complete their work through making resources and sample collections visible via the UKCRC Tissue Directory.

RoyalFree_Bank

We help human sample resources

Biobank, cohort, biorepository or clinical trial - whatever size or shape your collection, there are a number of ways we can help make your resource more visible to the research community.

office-1209640_1920

We help research influencers

We aim to maximise the value of existing human sample resources. We support medical research funders and regulators to  improve the impact of projects and collections.

THE UKCRC TISSUE DIRECTORY

Human samples are collected by various individuals and research groups across the UK to facilitate research. However, some of this work has been duplicating previous efforts because there was no centralised system for knowing what samples were already stored. 

We aim to change that. The UKCRC Tissue Directory is the UK's only register of sample collections that covers multiple diseases and allows searching based on age, gender, disease classification, sample type and available datasets.

The UKCRC Tissue Directory is under ongoing development based on feedback we receive from sample resources, researchers and medical research funders. We are currently in Phase II of development, which is prioritising making the registration process easier and searches more relevant. 

MEET THE TEAM

philadac

Philip Quinlan

                     Director                     

Phil directs the vision and product delivery of the UKCRC TDCC. With a background in data systems, he particularly focuses on opportunities to integrate the UKCRC Tissue Directory with other initiatives.

Read more about Phil.

Woman faced to left corner, with face to front. She wears an orange top

Jessica Sims

Co-Director

Jessica leads on the UKCRC TDCC's collaborations with external stakeholders to join-up the UK's biomedical research landscape. This work aims to promote complementary policies and campaigns.

Read more about Jessica.

PhilVK

Phil Van Krimpen

Senior Digital
Research Scientist

Phil is joint technical lead for the UKCRC Tissue Directory.  He is responsible for improving the Directory based on user feedback, in terms of  technical capability,  its look and feel, and its functionality.

Jon_20191030_094718

Jon Couldridge

Senior Digital
Research Scientist

Jon is joint technical lead for the UKCRC Tissue Directory.  He is responsible for improving the Directory based on user feedback, in terms of  technical capability,  its look and feel, and its functionality.

WHO FUNDS US

We're funded by eight  members of the UK Clinical Research collaboration.

UKCRC logo
MRC logo
WTP051585
CSOlogo
British_Heart_Foundation_logo
download
nihrcolb RGB
HCRW logo
HSC logo