Biobank

Our frozen tissue collection currently contains over 10,000 samples from animal specimens donated to our collections. 

The genetic material contained in each sample holds a wealth of information that can be used to facilitate fundamental scientific research and support conservation management of endangered species.

We work closely with universities, zoos and other organisations to preserve specimens and tissue samples for non-commercial research purposes. 

Please email biobank@nms.ac.uk for information about how to donate or apply for samples, or for any other queries relating to the collection.

Donating samples to our Biobank

In donating a sample to our Biobank you agree that:

1. Ownership of the sample is transferred to the National Museums Scotland
2. Use of the sample will be determined by the National Museums Scotland
3. The sample data may be made publicly visible.

To donate vertebrate samples to the Biobank please contact Zena Timmons or email biobank@nms.ac.uk. To discuss any other vertebrate donations, including whole bodies, please contact Professor Andrew Kitchener.  

For invertebrate Biobank donations please contact Dr Vladimir Blagoderov. 

Requesting samples from the Biobank

Samples may be requested directly from our Biobank or through the CryoArks website for destructive sampling and use in non-commercial research. If we cannot fulfil a sample request, we may circulate your request to the CryoArks Biobank partners.

To request samples, please contact Zena Timmons or email biobank@nms.ac.uk.  

Please be aware, it is the user’s responsibility to ensure all sample use complies with UK legislation on Access and Benefit Sharing (the Nagoya Protocol).

Please read the information on the Nagoya Protocol prior to commencing your research.