University of Minnesota  Procedure

Procuring, Using, and Disposing of Donated Human Bodies Used for Research and Teaching

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Questions?

Please use the contact section in the governing policy.

This procedure applies to research and education with any deceased human body or body part.

Procurement: Deceased Human Body or Body Part

  1. Contact the Anatomy Bequest Program (ABP) at [email protected]or 612-625-1111 to procure a deceased human body, or body part
  2. The APB will assist in documenting all proposed uses of the human body or body part in the ABP proposal form.
  3. The APB proposal form is reviewed and action is determined by the ABP Proposal Review Committee, which meets monthly.
  4. If the proposal is approved by the committee, the ABP will arrange for the procurement, transportation and preparation of the deceased human body, or body part for studies to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and the directives of next-of-kin/authorizing person.
  5. In the event that the ABP cannot fulfill the request for the deceased human body or body part, they will first recommend that the deceased human body or body part be procured through the University of Minnesota, Fairview Hospital, or a University of Minnesota tissue procurement organization such as the Minnesota Lion's Eye Bank, the University of Minnesota Blood Cord Bank, or a tissue facility within the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.
  6. If the donated body cannot be procured through these sources, the ABP will facilitate the procurement and transportation of a deceased human body or body part from organizations that have appropriate legal and ethical operating practices. In this case, a copy of the document of gift must come with the donated body.

Use and Disposition of Deceased Human Body or Body Part

  1. Before University staff and students are exposed to the deceased human body or body part, they must make sure that they have current blood-borne pathogen training and any other training required by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.
  2. The University staff must document use of the deceased human body or body part, and institute sufficient tracking procedures.
  3. The Anatomy Bequest Program will contact the University staff biannually to determine if the research is complete and the disposition of the deceased human body or body part can be facilitated.
  4. The Anatomy Bequest Program will facilitate the disposition of the deceased human body or body part, and ensure that health and safety requirements, contractual obligations and donor wishes are met. 

Change in the Study or Extension of the Study

  1. Contact the ABP if intended use of the deceased human body or body part changes or if the study will take longer than anticipated.
  2. ABP will notify the next-of-kin/ authorized person and request permission to extend the donation timeframe, when the ABP provides the deceased human body or body part.
  3. ABP will notify the University staff of the outcome of the extension request.