BRAIN UK
UK BRain Archive Information Network
Accessing NHS tissue archives for neuroscience research
BRAIN UK is an MRC-funded initiative supported by the British Neuropathological Society which is cataloguing the diagnostic tissue holdings of UK neuropathology centres and making these extensive archives available to the research community for high quality neurological research. To date we have access to over 60,000 cases.
These valuable tissue resources are derived from post mortem examinations and contain neurological conditions that do not currently attract dedicated Brain Banking funding (e.g. stroke) as well as psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia) and rare disorders (e.g. progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy). Importantly, BRAIN UK also has many normal cases useful as controls.
We are now accepting enquiries via e-mail and, if BRAIN UK is in a position to provide tissue for research use, researchers will be invited to submit an application.
Generic Ethical Approval
As part of our favourable opinions from the South Central - Southampton B Researth Ethics Committee we are able to offer studies utilising tissue obtained via BRAIN UK 'generic ethical approval'. This will, in most cases, enable studies to proceed without researchers being required to obtain their own Ethical Approval. However, certain conditions apply so please check the 'Applications' sub-heading for further information.
