The National Disease Research Interchange is committed to providing human tissue only to those projects that are up to ethical and scientific standards. Human tissue must be reserved for those research projects for which there is the greatest need, and which meet NDRI's stringent ethical and scientific standards.

All researchers are required to submit an application to NDRI. This application must be approved before any tissue is provided, and requires the following supporting documentation.

• A complete synopsis of the research for which the tissue is to be used. This synopsis includes a statement of the specific aim of the project, the long-term objectives, the experimental procedures to be used, and any preliminary data that would support the validity of the work to be performed. NDRI also asks for a lay-language summary that it can give to tissue donors and their families upon request. An independent committee of medical and scientific professionals who volunteer their service to NDRI reviews the synopsis for scientific merit and ethical considerations. Projects which, in the opinion of the committee, do not warrant the use of human tissue or are unlikely to produce valid results are rejected, ensuring that donated tissues are not wasted on frivolous or questionable pursuits.
• The curriculum vitae of the principal investigator. NDRI reviews the background of every researcher who is requesting tissue, to ascertain that the tissue will be delivered to a person who is knowledgeable and experienced in its handling.
• A statement of approval from the researcher's Institutional Review Board. Only projects which have been reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (or equivalent) are served. NDRI will not provide tissue without the assurance that the researcher's institution is both aware of and supports the use of human tissue in its laboratories.

NDRI serves researchers in both the academic and private sector. It maintains a strict policy of serving only those investigators in either community who are involved in basic biomedical research. Tissue provided by NDRI may not be distributed, for profit or otherwise, to any other party.

Click here to complete our application online.