DONATEGOVERNANCE
Overview
RGCIRC Biorepository works in conjunction with two dedicated committees – Scientific Committee Meeting (SCM) and the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The RGCIRC “Tissue Release Board” is an institutional committee responsible for reviewing and approving requests for the release of tissue samples or bio specimens stored within RGCIRC Biorepository. The primary purpose of a Tissue Release Board is to ensure that the use of stored tissues is consistent with ethical, legal, and regulatory standards while safeguarding the rights and privacy of donors. The TRB operates independently and impartially to ensure the ethical and responsible use of biospecimens in research. The TRB falls under the ambit of Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC/IRB) of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research centre. .
The members of all these three committees are appointed from both within and outside the institute. The Governance structure and terms and reference are outlined below.
Governance Structure
Terms of reference for the Tissue Release Board (TRB)
| S. No. | Activities | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ethical Oversight: | Ensuring that the release of tissue samples complies with ethical principles, including informed consent, privacy, and the fair and responsible use of biospecimens in research. |
| 2. | Data Access Policies: | Establishing and enforcing data access policies to govern who can access biospecimens, the purposes for which they can be used, and data sharing and confidentiality agreements. To decide on release of the follow up clinical information. |
| 3. | Reviewing Research Proposals: | Evaluating research proposals to determine their scientific merit, relevance, and ethical considerations, including potential risks and benefits. |
| 4. | Benefit to Society: | Assessing whether research projects have the potential to advance scientific knowledge, improve patient care, or contribute to public health. |
| 5. | Conflict of Interest Management: | Ensuring that board members and researchers do not have conflicts of interest that could compromise the integrity of the review process |
| 6. | Compliance with Regulations: | Ensuring that all research involving tissue release adheres to applicable local, national, and international regulations, including those related to human subject protection and privacy |
| 7. | Record Keeping: | Maintaining detailed records of all decisions, discussions, and outcomes related to tissue release requests for transparency and accountability. |
| 8. | Continuous Improvement: | Evaluating and refining review processes, policies, and procedures based on evolving ethical standards, regulatory changes, and feedback from stakeholders. To periodically assess the Priceline of the tissue repository services with a view to cover the cost of activities. |
