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VLA Biological Archive's Independent Archive Advisory Group (IAAG)

The role of the IAAG is to advise on the release of tissues collected under Defra funding (and other UK public organisations) to scientists wishing to use them in their research into TSEs.

The IAAG operates under a fair, open and transparent policy and advises how the Archive can be run to meet this policy.

To do this, the IAAG advises on the following:

• policy for release of tissues

• the remit of the Archive

• tissues to be collected

• treatments and storage conditions

• quality control

• the Archive database records

• tissue disposal

• tissue charges

• location(s) of the Archive stores

• research grant application issues

• content of the Archive website

The IAAG membership includes:

• independent chairperson

• five independent scientists

• Defra representative from Science Directorate

• Defra representative from CVO Directorate

• VLA representative from TSE Programme Management

• VLA Biological Archive Head of Group

• FSA observer/representative

• European Commission observer/representative

The IAAG terms of reference are available from Defra's Science Directorate

For meeting dates and deadlines see the VLA Biological Archive introduction page.