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This policy applies to research and teaching with any deceased human body or whole body part. It does not apply to tissue samples or specimens from living persons.

University employees and students desiring to procure a deceased human body or whole body part ("donated body") must make a request through the Anatomy Bequest Program (ABP), the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, Cancer Center Tissue Procurement Facility, or a University of Minnesota tissue procurement organization such as the Minnesota Lion's Eye Bank and University of Minnesota Blood Cord Bank.

When using donated bodies in research and teaching activities, University employees and students must comply with federal and state regulations, the wishes of donors, and Institutional Review Board requirements. The donated body must be used as originally intended. If the employee or student wishes to use it for another purpose, he or she must contact the procurement organization that provided the donated body to verify that the additional use will not conflict with the informed consent agreement.

It is not appropriate for researchers to hold donated bodies indefinitely. For donated bodies procured by the ABP, next-of-kin are told that studies normally average eighteen months. When the study takes longer than this time, the ABP notifies the next-of-kin. If a researcher has not contacted ABP regarding disposition within this eighteen-month window, ABP will contact the researcher for information. University employees and students who procure donated bodies through the Hospital or University tissue procurement organization must comply with the policies and procedures of those organizations.

Regardless of where the donated body was procured, University employees and students must notify the ABP when the study or class has been completed so that appropriate final disposition arrangements can be made.

Exclusions

This policy excludes the procurement, use, and disposition of tissues or body parts from living donors.

The policy does not address the procurement or use of human embryos or embryonic stem cells, which are addressed in the University policy, Conducting Research with Human Embryos or Embryonic Stem Cells.

The policy does not address the procurement or use of human fetal tissue, which is addressed in the University policy, Conducting Human Fetal Transplantation Research.

The use of donated bodies is regulated by the 1987 Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. As required by the Act, the University must ensure that individuals who donate bodies or body parts give informed consent to use these remains for research or teaching. The Anatomy Bequest Program has mechanisms for verifying that tissue procurement organizations have obtained informed consent for the donated bodies they handle.

When the research or teaching activity is complete, the donated body must be disposed of according to environmental health and safety regulations and the wishes of the next-of-kin. The Anatomy Bequest Program ensures that final disposition meets both health and safety regulations and the contractual obligations.

• Procuring, Using, and Disposing of Donated Human Bodies Used for Research and Teaching

• Anatomy Bequest Program (ABP) Forms page

Subject	Contact	Phone	Fax/Email
Primary Contact	David Lee		leexx007@umn.edu
Policy	Anatomical Bequest Program	612-625-1111	bequest@umn.edu
Deceased human body procurement	Anatomical Bequest Program	612-625-1111	bequest@umn.edu
Bloodborne pathogen training	Department of Environmental Health and Safety		http://www.dehs.umn.edu/bio_pracprin_blood_bpt.htm

Donated Human Body

Any human body, whole body part, or organ from a cadaver.

Tissue Procurement Organization

An organization that is licensed to receive tissues or organs from donors.

Disposal

Disposal of the human specimen in the original container or original form. Disposal also applies to small quantities of human specimen that are residual (often referred to as waste) or have been adulterated through use.

Disposition Records

An accurate, continuous and current record used to track the acquisition, use and disposal of a donated body.

Research

Any investigative activity engaged in by University personnel using University facilities or resources regardless of funding source.

Teaching

Teaching activities include classroom demonstrations, laboratory exercises and research projects that are required for completion of a course at the undergraduate, graduate or professional level.

University employee (faculty or researcher) or student

Contact ABP when a donated body is needed. Properly use and maintain disposition records of the donated body. Contact procedurement facilitator (e.g., ABP or Eye Bank) if intended use changes. Contact ABP to dispose of the donated body.

Anatomy Bequest Program (ABP)

Facilitate donation of whole body donors. Maintain bequest database. Arrange for transporting and preparing donated bodies for studies. Inspect facilities. Maintain communication with next-of-kin. Arrange for cremation and disposition of remains.

There are no appendices for this policy.

There is no FAQ for this policy.

• Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
• Department of Environmental Health Services

Effective:

February 2006

To obtain a copy of a historical policy, e-mail the U Policy Librarian at policy@umn.edu or call 612-624-4372.