Brain, CSF and Spinal cord

What tissue is available?

Tissue is available from over 1300 donors with a range of dementias including AD, VaD, LBD, FTD as well as cognitively normal controls in the same age group. Information about cases can be found on the searchable UK Brain Bank Network (UKBBN) database. Access to the database is free of charge although registration is required . The UK Brain Banks Network Tissue has well-characterised, detailed, standardised neuropathology available such as:

  • Braak tangle staging
  • Lewy Body staging
  • Thal phase
  • VCING
  • Overall neuropathological diagnosis

What sample types are available?

Sample types include:

  • Frozen brain tissue stored at –80°C
  • Fixed brain tissue - FFPE
  • ‘wet’ formalin fixed tissue
  • Frozen/fixed spinal cord
  • CSF (post mortem)
  • DNA/RNA
  • Fibroblasts or iPSCs
  • Ex-vivo blood samples (via BDRCC) Availability of specific sample types will depend on the case and the bank concerned Samples can be requested by brain area or Brodmann area.

How do I request tissue?

By application form (including scientific justification, lay summary, hypothesis, background and methods) to the relevant brain banks. All BDR banks have an approval process which includes scrutiny by lay, as well as scientific, members. The brain bank staff are available to help researchers identify suitable cases and to support you with your application, including discussion of any particular needs such as frozen sections or homogenates. Further information can be found here

What additional data is available?

Dataset includes: Structured baseline history, demographics, family and drug history Cognitive / Functional assessment – MMSE, MoCA, TICS-M, CDR, Bristol ADL Mood assessment - Cornell / GDS Behavioural assessment - NPI Lifestyle assessment - NART, Assessment of vascular disease and frailty - BP/pulse, waist/hip circumference, timed gait speed measurement, maximum handgrip strength DLB toolkit, Genetics including ApoE.

What happens after approval?

Once your application has been approved:

  • A Material Transfer Agreement will be agreed between your institution and the bank(s)
  • It will include acknowledging use of the BDR tissue samples in any resulting publications
  • The bank(s) will check your specific criteria, choose and prepare the tissue
  • Large or specialised requests may involve more than one bank and may take longer to prepare.

Are there charges involved?

Yes. All brain banks in the UKBBN follow the partial cost recovery scheme. There are standard tariffs for tissue provision. For details go to: Tariffs for brain tissue  

Do I need ethical approval?

Yes. But BDR brain banks are all NHS research ethics committee approved Research Tissue Banks and can supply human tissue for UK research under generic “Research Tissue Bank” approval, provided that access committees are convinced that the research proposed is ethical. Requests from overseas require evidence of IRB approval.