Translating Research into Highest Quality Patient Care

Clarification between Owner versus Custodian


 

Who should be the “Owner” of the Standing Database / Tissue Bank?

 

The respective institutions/cluster (“Owner”) possesses ownership of standing databases / tissue banks set up by their staff. The Head of Department (HOD) is the appropriate authority to endorse as “Owner” for standing databases / tissue banks created within his/her department. The Chairman Medical Board (CMB) or equivalent is the appropriate authority to endorse as “Owner” for standing databases / tissue banks that straddle more than one department in his/her institution. Standing databases / tissue banks that straddle more than one institution will require the endorsement by the CMBs or equivalents of all institutions concerned.

 

 

 

Who should be the “Custodian” of the Standing Database / Tissue Bank?

 

The “Owner” should appoint a suitable staff (“Custodian”) to be responsible for the set up and maintenance (including security and access) of the database / tissue bank. If the "Custodian" leaves the employment of the institution, another employee should be appointed as the new "Custodian". The "Custodian" should inform the "Owner" when the standing database / tissue bank ceases to be useful and therefore “shuts down”.

 

For large IT systems, the “Custodian” shall be synonymous with the appointed “System Owner”.

 

Where there is shared ownership of a standing database / tissue bank amongst various NHG or partner institutions, the "Owners" should agree upon the most suitable "Custodian".

 

For standing database / tissue bank that are set up with an external institution, institutions within NHG should appoint an NHG "Custodian" to protect NHG’s interest in the joint database / tissue bank.