Background
As physicians, we have a moral and intellectual obligation to conduct research. This is a part of our responsibility to be educators and to contribute to advancement in the practice of medicine. However, in conducting and facilitating research it is incumbent on pathologists to recognize and adhere to recent changes in public policy and issues concerning use of tissues and data for medical research. These changes have resulted in new provincial legislation (Personal Health and Information Act, PHIA) and national guidelines for research (Tri-Council Guidelines http://www.nserc.ca/programs/ethics/english/policy.htm) encompassing confidentiality and ethics, and that impact on the use of tissues and data in the Department of Pathology for any purpose that is not directly related to the diagnosis or clinical care of the individual patient.
Tissue Access Committee
In accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Association of Pathologists, the University of Manitoba Pathology Department has established a Pathology Access Committee for Tissue (PACT) to oversee use of tissue for research.
1) Mechanism for access to Tissue
a) Principal Applicants must be pathologist members of the WRHA Laboratory Medicine Program, Division of Pathology who are responsible for the commitments. Other investigators may apply only as coapplicants with a pathologist. This does not necessarily mean that a pathologist must be a collaborator in your research.
b) Application Forms for research projects are downloadable from the Department website as a Microsoft Word file and should be submitted by for review to the PACT committee. (see below)
c) Applications submitted will be reviewed and investigators notified soon after.
2) Mandate of the committee.
The PACT committee aims to ensure that all access to tissue and related pathology data is documented, appropriate and equitable, and that clinical priorities, patient and sample anonymity continue to be respected and preserved. All applicants are advised that they should be personally familiar with all relevant laws and policies governing confidentiality and ethical use of tissues for research (PHIA, the Tri-Council Guidelines, and the University of Manitoba Research Ethics Review Board) and that where relevant, all applications must also be submitted to the University of Manitoba Research Ethics Review Board.
Questions may be addressed to the PACT committee through Ms M. Huebner at 204.789.3538.
Current PACT committee membership is as follows: Dr. Gaynor Williams, Dr. Gefei Qing, Ms. Sandi Dion and Ms. Lisa Manning.