Apply for recall

We can support research studies, specifically stratification by genotype and/or phenotype either through participant recall or the provision of data and/or samples.

The BioResource can assist with recruitment of volunteers for research studies. We have a team of experienced research coordinators and nurses and offer a full study facilitation service that can include:

  • volunteer selection and screening by genotype or phenotype
  • recruitment into a study
  • linking volunteers to Online studies
  • managing appointments
  • consent
  • samples collection
  • transportation of samples to the research team
Watch our video to learn more about how the BioResource can support your study

Before you apply

Before you submit an application for support please contact us to discuss your study. We will be able to review the feasibility of your requirements and advise on any likely ethical amendments needed in order to use the BioResource, please note that ethical approval is not usually required for access to samples. 

Please contact us by email at: nbr@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk

Application process

When you submit an application, it will be considered by our NIHR BioResource Steering Committee/Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). They must give their approval before the study can commence.

Each NIHR BioResource Steering Committee meeting will consider a maximum of eight new applications. If the next NIHR BioResource Steering Committee meeting is full, or if we receive your application after the deadline, we will consider it at the next available meeting.

All applications will undergo feasibility checks before being passed to the Steering Committee for review. You will receive feedback within one month from the application deadline above.

Please note that, once a study is approved by the NIHR BioResource, then all local BioResource centres can potentially recruit locally to the study, as required and subject to any required site R&D/REC approvals. 

Please apply using our application form.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Completed forms should be emailed to nbr@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk.

Application deadlines and process timing

Applications must be received for review by: 

  • Wednesday 21st February 2024 - for the meeting on Wednesday 20th March 2024
  • Thursday 23rd May 2024 - for the meeting on Thursday 20th June 2024

Once your study is approved

If your application to the NIHR BioResource Steering Committee is successful, our team will ask you to complete a Study Summary Template. We cannot recruit participants until we have received this completed form.

Please note that, before recruitment starts, we might ask you to amend your study paperwork, including Patient Information Sheet and Consent Form, to ensure that it complies with our Protocol and Standards.

Any recall studies that make use of the BioResource facilities in S2 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital must have NHS REC approval. In addition to this Cambridge University Hospital must be an approved site.

If you have any questions about the application process or need advice or help with amending study paperwork, please email  nbr@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk 

Data and sample fidelity 

For most studies that recall NIHR BioResource participants, participant selection is based on samples or data already held.

We make every effort to ensure that our data and sample holding accurately represent the participants who have joined.  However, there is still a very small chance that errors may have been made during sample-handling and/or data-extraction processes.

We advise you to check by a method of your choice any aspect of the data provided by the NIHR BioResource if it is critical to your research. 

If, in the course of subsequent data analyses we discover any errors, we will notify relevant researchers.

Interested in BioResource data ?

Data-only requests are processed by our Data Access Committee (academic requests) and Steering Committee (industry requests) and - depending on the complexity of the request - you could receive access to data within a few weeks

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Access our samples

If you think our samples can support your research, click here to learn more.

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Please apply using our application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Completed forms should be emailed to nbr@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk.