Human Developmental Biology Resource 

We are longstanding collaborative partners with the Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR), which is a Wellcome/MRC funded resource based at the Institute of Genetic Medicine, University of Newcastle and at the Institute of Child Health, University College London.

The HDBR consists of an ongoing collection of human fetal material ranging from 4 to 23 weeks of pregnancy. Tissue samples are available to the international scientific community for research into early human development, the causes of birth defects and new treatments for childhood disease.

All research findings from HDBR-linked projects are made available through open-access publications on the internet. In addition, the HuDSeN Atlas of the Developing Human provides electronic images and interpretation of gene expression patterns in human embryos. Any gene expression data that emerges from use of the HDBR material is added to this database.

A very successful collaboration between HDBR and BPAS was launched in 2009. Women attending for termination of pregnancy are given the opportunity to donate their fetal tissue to be used for research purposes.