The science of giving back

At Guy’s and St Thomas’, the Heart, Lung and Critical Care (HLCC) Biobank keeps a special kind of gift safe.

It stores donated samples like lung and heart tissue, blood and other materials, so researchers can learn more about disease and improve care for future patients.

For many people, the decision to donate is deeply personal. Some of the most powerful contributions come from people who have had transplants, choosing after surgery to give their old organs to research.

Kara Terol, 38, knows this first hand. During her pregnancy, she agreed to take part in a research study, a decision that unexpectedly led to the diagnosis of her heart condition.

“That diagnosis changed my life,” she said, “It meant I received the specialist care I needed.”

Because of that experience, Kara did not hesitate when she was later asked about donating her heart for research.

“Research played a huge role in my journey. If I hadn’t taken part in that study, my condition may not have been discovered when it was.”

Another person who chose to give back in this way is 41-year-old Katie James. She had a heart transplant at age 32 after years of serious heart problems, which had left her heart weak and caused dangerous rhythms.

At one point, it was working at just 15%. After her transplant, Katie chose to donate her old heart to science.

She said: “Donating my heart wasn’t a difficult choice. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for donation. The decision was actually very easy, to donate my heart to science or to help someone else felt like the right thing to do.”

Reflecting on her transplant, she added: “I feel incredibly happy to be alive today, and deeply grateful for the transplant. Life afterwards has been something I could only have dreamt of. Before, even simple things like walking up the stairs were a struggle. Now, I find myself smiling when I reach the top without feeling out of breath.”

Katie also takes comfort in being able to give back: “I feel very grateful. Not only did I receive a gift, but I was able to share one too.”

Today, she enjoys walking and paddleboarding, and supports other patients going through similar experiences.

Donations like Kara’s and Katie’s are stored safely in the HLCC Biobank at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. Each sample is carefully labelled and linked to clinical information, such as diagnosis and treatment history, with strict rules applied to protect patient privacy.

This helps researchers understand how diseases develop and how treatments affect people over time. Only approved researchers can access the samples, which may be used in carefully managed studies across the world to improve patient care.

Harshil Bhayani, HLCC Biobank manager, said: “Many of the breakthroughs we rely on today were made possible by patients who chose to donate samples. These donations help scientists answer questions we cannot solve in any other way. They are a lasting legacy that supports us finding future cures.”

The biobank supports many types of research. Scientists use the samples to study how cells work, what goes wrong in diseases, and how new treatments could help.

In one project, researchers used donated heart tissue to study a protein linked to heart failure. They found that adding this protein back into heart cells made them stronger in the lab. This could lead to new treatments in the future.

Researchers are also studying how the heart’s electrical signals are affected by disease. This could help doctors better understand conditions that cause dangerous heart rhythms. Other work is exploring how to grow new heart valves in the lab, which could reduce the need for repeat surgery.

Patients can choose to donate in different ways. Some give samples left over after tests or surgery. Others agree to provide additional samples, like blood or saliva, during routine care. Taking part is always voluntary, and it does not affect treatment.

Fast facts

• Since launching in 2009, the HLCC Biobank now contains around 100,000 respiratory and cardiovascular samples
• More than 12,600 people have provided samples to the biobank