Potential research
The majority of the tissue collections forming the BRAIN UK network are in a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) format that which is ideal for the study of disease phenotypes in terms of morphological and protein expression analyses. This type of resource is also, through continuing technical advances, becoming increasingly amenable to the extraction of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and RNA for the study of the genetic influences on disease as well as the identification of infectious agents (e.g. viruses, bacteria and fungi) and the concomitant genetic study of such organisms.
In addition to FFPE tissue and their corresponding permanent slide preparations we have also identified varying quantities of formalin-fixed ‘wet’ tissue, frozen tissue and CSF which may also be utilised for research purposes.
Example Cases Available
| Cases | ||
| Neurodegenerative | Huntingdon's disease | 614 |
| Spinocerebellar ataxia | 18 | |
| Paediatric | Sudden infant death |
60 |
| Epilepsy | 1231 | |
| Cerebrovascular disease | Cerebral infarction | 1360 |
| Trauma | Head injury | 1265 |
| Infections | Viral encephalitis (HSV) | 31 |
| Syphilis | 27 | |
| PML |
29 | |
| SSPE | 12 | |
| Psychiatric | Schizophrenia | 747 |
| Chromosomal abnormalities | Down's syndrome | 89 |
| Intoxications | CO poisoning | 20 |
| Controls | 1869 |
Generic Ethical Approval
As part of our favourable opinion from the Southampton and South West Hampshire Research Ethics Committee B 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.