Home Research on Human Tissue Need

Is there a need for human tissue?

Human tissue allows biomedical researchers to conduct experiments that could not be performed with animal models or cell cultures. For example, it is not possible to fully understand the molecular mechanisms of certain diseases in humans unless one can study the actual diseased tissue.

Human tissue is critical for two new areas of research that promise to revolutionize medicine: genomics and proteomics. These two areas require large-scale analysis of, respectively, genetic information and protein "profiles". Many (typically thousands) of genes or proteins are studied simultaneously in tissue samples from multiple individuals (tens to hundreds). Genomic and proteomic technology have made human tissue far more usefule for research.

This kind of research reveals the types of genetic changes or protein "signatures" that are associated with a particular disease, because the actual diseased tissue is analyzed, rather than a model system serving as a surrogate for the human disease. Experiments on human tissue, particularly genomic and proteomic research, are being translated into new diagnostic and prognostic tests, and used as the basis for new targeted therapeutics.

Excised human tissue has its greatest potential benefit when there is associated clinical data for analysis because genomic and proteomic research may then reveal associations between genetic or protein patterns and response to therapy, or toxicity.