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Questions and Answers
How has the use of human tissue benefitted drug development?
How has the use of human tissue benefitted drug development?
In what ways can individuals contribute to increasing the availability of human tissue for research?
In what ways can individuals contribute to increasing the availability of human tissue for research?
What role did the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine play in addressing the availability of human tissue for research?
What role did the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine play in addressing the availability of human tissue for research?
What did The Human Tissue Roundtable focus on improving to facilitate the use of human tissue in research?
What did The Human Tissue Roundtable focus on improving to facilitate the use of human tissue in research?
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What kind of research breakthroughs have scientists made using human tissue?
What kind of research breakthroughs have scientists made using human tissue?
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Why is the availability of human tissue considered a barrier to its use in scientific research?
Why is the availability of human tissue considered a barrier to its use in scientific research?
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Which technology involves micro devices that mimic the structure and function of human tissues?
Which technology involves micro devices that mimic the structure and function of human tissues?
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What is the purpose of High-Throughput Screening technology in the context of donated human tissue research?
What is the purpose of High-Throughput Screening technology in the context of donated human tissue research?
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What is one way individuals can donate their tissues for research purposes?
What is one way individuals can donate their tissues for research purposes?
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Which technology involves printing human cells into three-dimensional structures?
Which technology involves printing human cells into three-dimensional structures?
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How are Patient-Derived Samples different from Disease-in-a-Dish technology?
How are Patient-Derived Samples different from Disease-in-a-Dish technology?
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What type of samples are directly taken from patients to study specific diseases and conditions?
What type of samples are directly taken from patients to study specific diseases and conditions?
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Study Notes
Human Tissues
Human tissues are an essential resource for scientific research and have played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of disease progression and drug development. The use of human tissue has led to the development of more effective and safer drugs, as well as improved treatments and therapies for various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Obtaining Human Tissue
Human tissue is typically obtained post-mortem from organ donors, as well as through surgery remnants and bodily fluids such as blood. Registering to become an organ and tissue donor is a way to increase the number of human samples available for research, which can ultimately help prevent and treat diseases.
Barriers to Using Human Tissues
The availability of human tissue is often cited as one of the main barriers to its use in scientific research. To address this issue, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) convened The Human Tissue Roundtable, which led to the development of recommendations for simplifying donation consent forms, improving communication, increasing continuing education opportunities, creating a database to match tissue providers with researchers, and establishing quality control criteria for each tissue or cell type.
Human Tissue Research Breakthroughs
Scientists have used human tissue to make significant advancements in various fields of health research. For example, researchers have used human lung tissue derived from patients affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to study the disease's pathology and develop potential treatments. Additionally, human skin cells left over from surgeries have been used to develop a test that more accurately identifies skin cancer.
Technologies that Use Donated Human Tissue
Several technologies have been developed to use donated human tissue for research purposes. These include:
- Disease-in-a-Dish: This technology involves growing human cells in a lab dish to study diseases and test potential treatments.
- Tissue-on-a-Chip: These are micro devices that mimic the structure and function of human tissues, allowing for the study of disease progression and drug development.
- Patient-Derived Samples: These are tissue samples taken directly from patients to study specific diseases and conditions.
- 3-D Bioprinting: This technology involves printing human cells into three-dimensional structures to study the development of tissues and organs.
- High-Throughput Screening: This technology involves testing large numbers of potential treatments on human tissue samples to identify the most effective ones.
Donating Your Tissue
Individuals can donate their tissues by registering as a donor through organizations such as OrganDonor.gov, Donate Life, or the National Disease Research Interchange. Donations can include blood, tissue from surgery, or organs after death.
In summary, human tissues are a valuable resource for scientific research that has led to significant advancements in our understanding of disease and the development of new treatments. By donating tissue, individuals can help increase the availability of these resources and contribute to the development of more effective drugs and therapies.
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Description
Explore the significance of human tissues in scientific research, from breakthroughs in disease studies to technological advancements utilizing donated tissues. Learn about obtaining human tissue, barriers to its use, and how individuals can contribute to research efforts by becoming donors.
