Policies on Research Tissue Bank

Conducting Tissue Banking Activities in SingHealth

A Research Tissue Bank will need to receive approval for (1) its operations and (2) ethical conduct of tissue banking activities before registering with MOH. The operational and ethical reviews will be done by the SingHealth Biobank Research Scientific Advisory Committee (SBRSA).

1. For approval by the SingHealth Biobank Research Scientific Advisory Committee (SBRSA):

A. For researcher or new satellite bank who wish to be under the oversight of the existing Research Tissue Bank in SingHealth, the existing Research Tissue Bank must agree to oversee and be responsible for the tissue banking activities of the researcher or the new satellite bank.

Once agreed, the existing tissue bank will submit the updated SingHealth Research Tissue Bank Application Form to SingHealth Biobank Research Scientific Advisory Committee (SBRSA) for review and approval. The review and approval will only for the additional tissue collection activities by the researcher or the new satellite bank.

B. For researcher who wish to setup a new Research Tissue Bank
Researcher must seek approval from his/her institution’s IR (Institution Representative) and Institution Management (eg. CMB/CEO) for the set up of a Research Tissue Bank within the Institution. Following the approval, the researcher will submit SingHealth Research Tissue Bank Application Form for the new Research Tissue Bank to the SingHealth Biobank Research Scientific Advisory Committee (SBRSA) for review and approval.

2. Upon approval by SBRSA:

A. For researcher or new satellite bank which is under the oversight of the existing Research Tissue Bank in SingHealth, the existing Research Tissue Bank will notify the researcher or new satellite bank for the start of the tissue banking activities.

B. For researcher who wish to setup a new Research Tissue Bank
Following approval, SingHealth RICE will notify MOH of the new Research Tissue Bank setup. The new Research Tissue Bank can only start its tissue banking activities after notifying MOH. MOH notification is required no later than 30 days before the start of first tissue banking activity.

Policies and Work Instruction

 • Quality Standard for Research Tissue Bank: SHS-RSH-ORIC-CWP-206 (Intranet Only)
 • Roles and Responsibilities of Research Tissue Bank: SHS-RSH-ORIC-CWP-209 (Intranet Only)
 • Formation and Cessation of Research Tissue Bank: SHS-RSH-ORIC-CWP-301 (Intranet Only)
 • Guidance document for Tissue Banking activities within SingHealth (Intranet Only)
 • Handling of Serious Adverse Events and Suspected Offence or Contravention by Research Tissue Bank and Persons Conducting Tissue Banking Activities (Intranet Only)

Form

 • SingHealth Research Tissue Bank Application Form: SHS-RSH-ORIC-CWP-402 (Intranet Only)
 • Human Biological Material Collection Form: SHS-RSH-ORIC-CWP-404 (Intranet Only)
 • SingHealth Research Tissue Bank Declaration Form: SHS-RSH-ORIC-433 (Intranet Only)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• FAQ