About QUOD


Journey of a QUOD sample – donating to transplant research
QUOD is a unique UK biobank that provides high-quality
human samples paired with rich clinical data
1. Biological samples and data from more than 9,500 donors

QUOD biobank provides researchers with high-quality biological samples precisely matched with rich clinical, donor, recipient, and organ metadata.

Samples taken at multiple timepoints from consented organ donors across the UK:

  • Tissue biopsies including kidney, liver, heart, ureter and spleen – frozen and FFPE
  • EDTA plasma, heparin plasma and serum aliquots
  • Urine aliquots
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) aliquots

Clinical data including donor, retrieval, organ preservation and transplant recipient/organ outcome.

Whole organ platform – where organs declined for transplant are made available for research. We facilitate:

  • Acceptance of whole organs for research studies
  • Transport arrangements for whole organs
  • Bespoke sample collection
2. Accelerating patient-benefitting research
  • Over 54,000 biobank items have been supplied to more than 80 research studies, enabling patient-benefitting research both within and beyond the field of transplantation.

Patient impact

  • Transplant research facilitated by QUOD biobank has contributed to the development of biomarkers, identification of new targets of intervention and repair, investigations into organ aging, and studies on the impact of viral infection.
  • Wider research enabled by QUOD biobank includes diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart disease and even COVID-19.

Academic impact

  • More than 25 publications, including papers in high impact journals.
  • QUOD samples have been used in >20 PhD and MSc projects, supporting basic science and clinical research fellows.
    3. Quality-assured and open to the global research community

    QUOD biobank is open to the global research community, supporting both academic and industrial research with a safe, robust and sustainable infrastructure.

    • We make obtaining samples and data accessible, affordable, and researcher-friendly for both academics and industry worldwide.
    • Centralised governance ensures quality across the entire sample collection, processing, storage and supply pathway.
    • QUOD biobank is embedded in the UK organ donation pathway and holds generic ethics approval as a Research Tissue Bank, giving researchers fast and streamlined access without the need their own ethics approval.
    4. A partner rather than a supplier

    With a straightforward application process, affordable access, and collaborative approach, QUOD biobank provides researchers with a partner, not just a sample and data supplier.

    • Rather than acting as a traditional supplier, QUOD biobank works alongside both academic and industry partners to support research projects from start to finish.
    • Hosted by the University of Oxford, the national QUOD biobank brings together a team of scientific and clinical experts, alongside specialists in data, PPIE, development, and project management. This broad range of expertise is directly available to researchers using QUOD biobank, helping to accelerate and strengthen their research.
    A not-for-profit research platform committed to amplifying its impact

    QUOD biobank is a not-for-profit research platform and is the result of a collaboration of academic centres and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). QUOD is primarily funded by NHSBT, alongside support from a range of additional funding partners and collaborators.

    Access and sample fees are charged on a partial cost-recovery basis, ensuring both accessibility and financial sustainability.

    We welcome opportunities to develop new partnerships and secure additional funding to enrich the biobank, expand our offering, strengthen the integrated scientific platform, and support future growth and innovation. All of this with the aim of accelerating research and ultimately improving and saving more lives.

    QUOD samples are obtained in accordance with the relevant legislation, which includes the Human Tissue Act 2004, the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, and the Mental Capacity Act (NI) 2016. Outside of Scotland, samples for research must be taken under a licence from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) holds a HTA Research licence (12608) that is site-specific and covers areas in 41 hospitals. This licence covers the collection of all QUOD samples.