Completed Pregnancy, Children & Inherited Conditions Cells, Biochemistry & Physiology

Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR): an embryonic and fetal tissue bank for the new genetics technologies.

Funder Wellcome Charity-funded
Associated organisations Newcastle University · University College London Europe PMC affiliations are not treated as award recipients or mapped locations.
Funding £1.5M
Period Mar 2013 — Feb 2018

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

The Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR) supplies the world’s scientists with donated human embryonic and fetal tissues—the only bank of its kind offering high-quality samples from early developmental stages. This matters because understanding how human genes work during development requires access to real human tissues, not just animal models or cell lines. Many genetic diseases and birth defects originate in the first weeks of pregnancy, but researchers have had limited access to tissues from these critical stages. The HDBR fills that gap by providing materials for gene expression studies, cell culture, and spatial mapping of where and when genes are active. If this resource expands as planned, researchers will gain access to more intact specimens, RNA and protein from specific tissues, and new techniques to study non-coding RNAs and alternative splicing. This directly supports large-scale initiatives in human development and disease. The impact is primarily on fundamental science—understanding how genes build a human body. That deeper knowledge could eventually inform diagnostics for developmental disorders or regenerative medicine, but the immediate value is in enabling discoveries that would otherwise be impossible.

View original technical description
The Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR; www.hdbr.org) is unique, being the only tissue-bank that provides the international scientific community with access to: -High-quality materials from human embryonic and early fetal stages, including tissues for cell culture, RNAs from sub-organ specific regions and slides for spatial gene expression studies; -An in-house gene expression service (IHGES) that undertakes studies for registered researchers; -A un ique web-based database for dissemination of human gene expression data spatially mapped to 3D models. To develop HDBR activities, and extend them to meet new challenges and opportunities, our key objectives are: -increase sample collection with a focus on intact specimens; -expand the range of IHGES studies, to include studies of non- coding RNAs and alternative spliced products, and to develop techniques to maximize expression information obtained from rare human tissues; -expand the range of materials provided, e.g. RNA, DNA and protein, from specific tissues to support sequencing, transcriptomics and proteomics projects; -interact strategically with large-scale initiatives focusing on human development and disease. By also improving our engagement with current and potential users, we will adapt the HDBR to meet the needs of functional gene characterisation, for the new genetics technologies.

View the original record at the funder ↗

Researchers

Andrew Copp (EPMC Awardee)Susan Lindsay (EPMC Awardee)

Related Research

Grants with similar aims, by meaning.

High-throughput Genomics and Transcriptomics of the Human Developmental Biology Resource
Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR): an embryonic and fetal tissue bank for functional genetics and cell-based research
Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR): meeting new trends and challenges in developmental biobanking
Human Developmental Biology Initiative
Human Developmental Biology Resource: support for Human Cell Atlas

Original classification

Biomedical Resources Grant

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.