Applying for tissue or data
Brains for Dementia Research provides a range of tissue and data to support your research :
- Post-mortem brain tissue (fixed and frozen)
- Tissue derivatives (including DNA, RNA and CSF)
- Stem cells (fibroblast-like and iPSC lines)
- Neuropathology data
- Other data (history, cognitive assessments and other clinical information).
Brain tissue
To apply for brain tissue, CSF or other derived material, you will need to complete an application form. Each Brain Bank has their own application process, but if you aren’t sure which Brain Bank to apply to for the tissue you need, please contact the Coordinating Centre who will assess the most suitable one for your requirements.
This flow chart lays out the tissue request process.
To apply or enquire about tissue, please contact the relevant brain bank:
| Brain bank | |
| Bristol | bdr-brainbank@bristol.ac.uk |
| London | brainbank@kcl.ac.uk |
| Manchester | andrew.c.robinson@manchester.ac.uk |
| Newcastle | nbtr@ncl.ac.uk |
| Oxford | brainbank@ndcn.ox.ac.uk |
Stem cells
To apply for fibroblast-like cell lines or iPSC lines, you will need to complete an application form and submit it to the BDR Coordinating Centre.
Please contact us to apply for stem cells.
Other data sets
As well as tissue and stem cells, other data sets are available through BDR. If you are interested in applying for access to samples or datasets, this flow diagram may be useful, as the process varies depending on the data you are requesting access to.
Neuropathology data only
Neuropathology data is available through the Uk brain banks network database , or directly from the individual brain banks.
Clinical assessment data from the living
This can be accessed following successful application to Dementias Platform UK (DPUK). Some clinical assessment data from deceased participants can be found on the Uk brain banks network database
Project approval
In order to approve a project, we require sufficient information about the proposed research that will enable assessment of the validity, methodology, peer review process, funding and contribution the proposed work will make to understanding dementia and developing treatments for the condition. We are very happy to consider pilot studies and to assist first time users. No distinction is made between applications from academic groups and those from commercial organisations
