About the Brain Bank
The Brain Bank was established in 1989 with the aim of providing high quality, clinically and neuropathologically well-characterised human brain and spinal cord tissue to the neuroscience community. The Brain Bank is part of the Basic and Clinical Neuroscience department at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) and works closely with the Department of Clinical Neuropathology at King’s College Hospital.
Brain and spinal cord tissue is one of the most important resources for neuroscience research. Our extensive range of highly-preserved tissue samples provide invaluable insights for our scientists working to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the most severe diseases and disorders affecting the brain. These include neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, motor neuron disease and psychosis. We also provide live surgical control tissue and CSF to the neuroscience community for improved outcomes in specific techniques.
King's Brain Bank is also part of the Brains for Dementia Research initiative, in which brain tissue from regularly assessed individuals provides the best resource for scientists working to understand dementia. By comparing changes in the brain with progression of memory impairment we support the development of more effective treatments.
Research
London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank provides a variety of tissue to further research projects among the neuroscience community worldwide. From surgical tissue, fixed tissue to frozen tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the brain bank is the number one source to many medical and commercial companies around the world, as well as academic groups. Highly trusted by the research community and beyond, the brain bank assures quality standards of tissue provision.
Donors
Supporting research is essential to medical advancements. We could never do it without the help and good will of donors and their families, so thank you. Your help could improve research into Alzheimer’s Disease, motor neuron disease, Huntington’s Disease and many other conditions
Strengths
- Fully characterised post-mortem tissue
- Surgical tissue provision for researchers powering the neuroscience field
- Healthy control brain and spinal cord tissue for comparative purposes
- Rigorous ethically-approved programme of informed consent from all donors
- Post-mortem diagnosis provided to the relatives of brain donors in accordance with national and international protocols
- Best practice in brain banking storage of frozen and formalin fixed tissue
Brain Bank Team
- Professor Safa Al-Sarraj - Director of Brain Bank and Head of Clinical Neuropathology department.
- Dr Claire Troakes - Brain Bank Coordinator
- Dr Zita Reisz – Consultant Neuropathologist
- Dr Istvan Bodi - Consultant Neuropathologist
- Dr Andrew King - Consultant Neuropathologist
- Albert Vamanu - Research Technician
- Jaimee Kennedy - PhD Student / Research Technician
- Sophia Downes - Research Technician
- Shamis Osman - BDR technician