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London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank

 

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 partially funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and is part of the Basic and Clinical Neuroscience department at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) and 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.

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. Highly trusted by the research community and beyond, the brain bank assures quality standards of tissue provision. 

Donors

Supporting research is quintessential to medical advancements. We could never do it without the help of good will people, so thank you. Your help could improve Alzheimer’s Disease research, motor neuron disease, Huntington’s Disease. 

Strengths

  • 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

  • Prof 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

 

Discover our world-class facilities

MRI scanning

MRI scanning

State-of-the-art neuroimaging equipment and techniques for translational and clinical research

Pre-clinical imaging

Pre-clinical imaging

Neuroimaging and spectroscopy equipment to investigate neurological and psychiatric conditions