Applies to: Faculty (including part-time and visiting faculty), postdoctoral scholars, staff and students (including graduate/undergraduate student workers and graduate assistants) employed by University of Southern California and its subsidiaries including Keck Medicine of USC (“USC employees”). This policy continues to apply to individuals on sabbatical, other leaves or while visiting other institutions.
1. POLICY
Issued: 09/15/2014
Last Revised: 09/15/2014
Last Reviewed: 10/18/2022
2. Policy Purpose
USC is committed to ensuring that human anatomical materials used for academic purposes meet all applicable regulatory and safety requirements. The purpose of this policy is to assist USC faculty and staff in appropriately procuring, using, and disposing of human anatomical materials for research and instruction.
3. Scope and Application
This policy applies to human anatomical materials for research and instruction.
4. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
| human anatomical materials | Identifiable, commonly recognizable human body parts; excluded are blood, bodily fluids, feces, microscopic tissue samples, paraffin blocks, tissue slides, hair, nails, teeth, human cells, and any human body parts harvested for immediate clinical use (e.g., organ transplantation) |
| AGP | Anatomical Gift Program |
| IBC | Institutional Biosafety Committee |
5. Policy Details
1. Faculty, staff and students may not procure, receive, or dispose of human anatomical materials from any source other than through the AGP or AGP approved outside vendors, with appropriate documentation as determined by the AGP.
2. The AGP will provide anatomical materials as supply permits, with degree-conferring programs receiving priority.
3. If AGP does not have materials readily available, it will arrange to obtain materials through an approved vendor.
4. Any research protocols involving human anatomical materials or biohazardous materials must be submitted to the IBC for review and approval prior to beginning the research.
5. All human anatomical materials must be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of both the AGP and USC Environmental Health and Safety.
6. Procedures
N/A
7. Forms
N/A
8. Responsibilities
| POSITION or OFFICE | RESPONSIBILITIES |
| Anatomical Gifts Program (AGP) | 1. Oversees the internal provision and external procurement of human anatomical materials for research and instructional purposes. All requests for human anatomical materials for these purposes must be made through the AGP. |
| Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) | 1. Reviews and approves research involving the use of human anatomical materials, as well as biohazardous materials. |
| USC Stevens Center for Innovation | 1. Negotiates Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) between USC and other nonprofit institutions for research materials other than human anatomical materials. |
| Purchasing | 1. Purchasing confirms that procurement requests for human anatomical materials over certain financial thresholds are reviewed and approved by the AGP. |
9. Related Information
N/a
10. Contacts
Please direct any questions regarding this policy to:
| OFFICE | PHONE | |
| Anatomical Gift Program | (323) 442-1229 | danahall@usc.edu |