Human Developmental Biology Resource: support for Human Cell Atlas

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Birth defects such as spina bifida or hole-in-the-heart affect one in every thirty pregnancies and arise when there is a problem in development of the fetus before birth. Even diseases of older children or adults can have their origins 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 with 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 research by providing scientists with access to material from human embryos and fetuses. The HDBR has approval from an Ethics Committee and from the Human Tissue Authority to collect, store and distribute human fetal material for research. The material is obtained, with informed consent of the mother, from unwanted pregnancies that are being terminated. Staff in the HDBR examine the fetal samples for stage of development and their chromosomes are tested to detect any abnormalities. The tissues are then either sent to researchers for immediate research, 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 results from the research can be linked back to the donating woman. To date, over 400 different research projects have received fetal material from the HDBR, and this has led to over 240 scientific papers being published. Discoveries have included genes for bowel disorders, schizophrenia and 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. Recently, the MRC allocated funds to pay for a new initiative: the Human Cell Atlas (HCA). In this research, the genes that are active in different organs and tissues of the human embryo and fetus will be identified, so that all the different types of cells within the organs can be recognized. Similarities and differences between fetal and adult organs will be especially studied. This information will be valuable in forming a basis for future research on how genes lead to birth defects and children's diseases. The HDBR will be the primary provider of human fetal material for this research, and the present application seeks additional funding to pay for the extra HDBR work that will be needed to support this HCA initiative. The new research projects within the HCA initiative pose considerable challenges for the HDBR and its tissue supply-chain. As a result, the HDBR is requesting extra funding to pay for additional staff members and running costs, in order to deliver a larger-scale service than at present. The HDBR will increase its attendance at abortion clinics, so as to collect extra fetal samples for research. Staff will be trained in new specialist tissue handling procedures that are required for the exacting demands of the HCA research. Operating efficiency of the HDBR will be improved to ensure that every, valuable fetal sample is used as well as possible. Close working with the HCA research teams will be emphasised, to ensure that tissue supply is coordinated with project needs. Finally, the use of stored frozen tissue as an alternative to fresh samples will be explored, as frozen tissue is easier to supply than fresh tissue. In these ways, the HDBR will rise to the demands of the new HCA project and will continue to supply tissues of the highest standards to enable the best possible quality research.