HBM & Research

Human biological material of any kind: organs, tissues, blood, cells, urine, feces, hair, etc
The original HBM or a component extracted from this HBM (purified cells, cell lines, RNA, DNA, proteins, etc.).
HBM from patients as well as healthy volunteers (even if they are part of your laboratory).
HBM
- Prospective: HBM collected prospectively from a target population for research purposes, either for a specific project or for as yet undefined future research. For this type of prospective HBM written informed consent is required.
- Residual: HBM collected as part of clinical care and which, after a sufficient and relevant part has been retained to establish/parfill/complete the diagnosis or treatment, is redundant and could then be destroyed, is retained for research purposes. For this residual HBM, written consent is not required if an opting-out procedure is in place at the collection hospital (this is the case at the CHU of Liège).
HBM from collection to destruction.
HBM intended for laboratory or animal research.

Residual HBM retained by clinical biology laboratories in order to perform new patient tests or validate new analytical methods (biological archives).
HBM intended for human therapeutic applications (cell therapy), whether minimally manipulated or used for the manufacture of ATMPs (Advanced Medicinal Therapeutic Products).
HBM collected prospectively as part of a clinical trial approved under the law of 07/05/2004 on human experimentation and clinical trials. However, if this HBM is temporarily stored at BHUL, it must be entered into the BHUL traceability system.

The BHUL must therefore manage

research HBM collected on one of the CHU de Liège sites, whatever its destination (including: residual HBM from a clinical biology lab; HBM collected for a clinical trial if temporarily stored at the BHUL for more than 24 hours);
HBM collected in another healthcare establishment but stored at the CHU de Liège or ULiège;
HBM collected in another healthcare establishment if it is intended for research at the CHU de Liège or ULiège and is not managed by another biobank notified to the FAMHP;
the HBM from the Unilab biological archives when it is secondarily destined for research (slides prepared by the pathological anatomy department ....);
HBM that we are asked to store and/or manage.

The BHUL does not manage:

HBM collected as part of a clinical trial (unless temporarily stored at BHUL for more than 24 hours);
HBM managed by another biobank notified to the FAMHP;
HBM that cannot be traced from collection to destruction;
components extracted from HBMs purchased by a laboratory from a commercial supplier.

updated on 10/2/23