Researchfish: evidencing use of Human Sample Resources

Acknowledging use of Human Sample Resources in Researchfish

Researchfish is a reporting platform used by over 150 funders to capture outcomes, outputs and impact of research they fund. The platform also enables researchers to report facilities and resources used for their research, including Human Sample Resources. The UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre (TDCC) has created a guide to support researchers in reporting the use of Human Sample Resources in their work.

The UKCRC TDCC has a responsibility to support Human Sample Resources in evidencing their impact and increasing transparency throughout the research process. Researchfish is a reporting mechanism that can help demonstrate the contributions UK Human Sample Resources make to health research.

Calling all Human Sample Resources!

(including biobanks, biorepositories, cohorts, tissue banks, etc.)

We have created guidance for Human Sample Resources to send to your collaborators and other users of your resource. Please insert the name of your resource into the template and then circulate this guide.

The purpose of the guidance template is to support researchers in accurately recording their use of Human Sample Resources, so please think carefully about the name by which your resource is known and how it would be searched for.

*** Note that the 2020 Researchfish submission window is 3rd February – 12th March so you may want to act quickly to ensure your resource is acknowledged! ***

Stage 1) Download the guidance template and insert the name of your Human Sample Resource in the highlighted section.

Stage 2) Share the customised template with researchers who have accessed your samples/data as collaborators and other users or your resource.

Calling all researchers!

  • Have you used tissue or data from a Human Sample Resource in your research?
  • Will you be making a 2020 Researchfish submission?

If you answered yes to both of these, follow our guide to ensure you report your use of a Human Sample Resource under ‘Facilities and Resources’.

It is a very quick section to complete and could be incredibly valuable for ensuring continued funding for tissue resources (see below).

Why is this important?

Funding - Acknowledging the use of Human Sample Resources in research is crucial in ensuring continued funding for these resources.

Impact – Reporting on Researchfish could support sample resources in evidencing their impact to funders.

Transparency - Recording use of a Human Sample Resource supports a sector-wide drive to increase transparency throughout the research process. Read more from the UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre and the Health Research Authority.

What is the UKCRC TDCC doing to support this?

The UKCRC TDCC is seeking a better sector-wide understanding of the contributions Human Sample Resources make to health research. Different models of funding and access can make this evidence difficult to gather.

Researchfish is a mechanism that could help everyone to better understand and support the utilisation of Human Sample Resources. This realisation of the full potential of all Human Sample Resources is sought after by many groups, including use MY data. Understanding the use of Human Sample Resources is an important step in deciding how to support future tissue banking and towards greater transparency throughout the research process.

If you have any questions or comments, email contact@tdcc-blog.azurewebsites.net.