Body Donor Program

UQ Body Donor Program

The University of Queensland conducts a Body Donor Program through the School of Biomedical Sciences. This Program accepts donations of human bodies to assist the School in providing educational and research opportunities for staff and students in the health, medical and science disciplines. By studying anatomy in this way, it is possible to examine the complexities and infinite variations of the structure of the human body. Our video presents a personalised presentation on the extraordinary gift that body donors contribute to medical and scientific discovery.

Most bodies are used in undergraduate teaching dissection programs which allow students to develop a fundamental knowledge of the human body. Such knowledge is essential for all members of the health and allied health professions.

The study of anatomy also includes surgical skills development and medical research to investigate issues that continue to perplex medical science. Donated bodies help to advance medical and scientific knowledge locally, nationally and internationally in order to promote health and alleviate suffering. Our online brochure provides information on the UQ Body Donor Program.

Conditions of acceptance for the UQ Body Donor Program

Registering for the UQ Body Donor Program

1. Enquiring about the program

 The first step in registering for The University of Queensland’s Body Donor Program is to contact our UQ Body Donor Program Administrator, Carol Jones. 

Carol can be contacted by:

2. Confirming your interest in registering for the program

The next step is to return your completed and witnessed registration and consent forms to The University of Queensland. Your letter can be sent to:

Dr Shannon Armstrong
Manager
UQ Body Donor Program
The University of Queensland
BRISBANE QLD 4072

3. Confirmation of your registration for the program

When the completed registration documents are received by the UQ Body Donor Program Manager, you will be advised that we have registered you as a body donor at The University of Queensland.

Instructions for Solicitors

Once confirmation of registration in the UQ Body Donor Program has been received, you may wish to update your will by including the following statement:

‘I bequeath my body, after death, to The University of Queensland for the purposes of education and research’.

Procedures following death

The University of Queensland requires early notification following death to ensure that the donor's body can be received into our care as soon as possible. This enables a screening process to commence prior to acceptance into the program.

Following notification, the next-of-kin and medical staff will be asked for information relevant to the screening process. Should a donor be accepted into the program, the University will arrange for transfer of the body by a funeral director to the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University’s St Lucia campus.

Conclusion of involvement in the UQ Body Donor Program

The body of a deceased donor is normally in the care of The University of Queensland for a period of up to three years, after which time the body is cremated. This process does not involve the nominated next-of-kin. In certain situations, the studies involving some bodies are completed in a shorter timeframe. Therefore, those bodies are cremated earlier than the scheduled date.

Following this process, the UQ Body Donor Program Manager and the crematorium will advise the nominated next-of-kin that the donor's ashes are available for collection.

The details and costs associated with the collection of ashes are private arrangements between the nominated next-of-kin and the crematorium.

Costs

The University of Queensland will cover the cost of cremation of donated bodies within Brisbane.

Contributions and bequests to cover such costs, or to support other education and research activities, are gratefully received by the University. Please contact the UQ Body Donor Program Manager for further information.

A tribute to our donors

The School of Biomedical Sciences is grateful for the generosity of those persons involved in the UQ Body Donor Program who provide a unique resource for students of human anatomy. A public expression of this appreciation and a celebration of thanks takes place each year when the School conducts its Annual Thanksgiving Service for Body Donors. Details about this service are available by clicking here.

The Annual Thanksgiving Service brings staff and students of the School of Biomedical Sciences together with donors’ families and friends to honour those donors whose bodies have been received into the School’s care during the two-year period leading up to the ceremony.

The Book of Remembrance, which lists the names of deceased donors, is a central feature of the service and is on permanent display in the foyer of the School’s Otto Hirschfeld Building.

One of our very talented staff members has written and dedicated a poem to our body donors.

Contact Details

Additional information on the donation of bodies for education and research is available by contacting the UQ Body Donor Program Manager.

On this site