UM Brain Bank Worldwide Network

National Tissue Resource & Provider Network

The Brain Endowment Bank maintains an active network of pathologists and dieners to assist with cases outside of the Florida catchment area. We have established a provider network across the United States to coordinate brain and tissue donations in over 38 different states, the Caribbean and South America. In addition to researchers in the USA, biospecimens have been provided to researchers in Canada, Europe and Israel.

Many pathologists and coroners volunteer their services to support Neuroscience research. In addition, we maintain a network of paid consultants, who will prepare and ship the brains and other tissues according to precise protocols. Every effort is taken to preserve the high quality of the tissue specimens. Our trained procurement staff are available 24 hours/365 days a year to coordinate this effort.

Brain tissue specimens are provided to researchers in academia and industry. Researchers may apply on-line. The review of the application usually requires 3-6 weeks.

Our staff takes special care to standardize biospecimen collection and management among investigators to enhance the quality and availability of brain and other biospecimens with linked clinical and demographic data for a broader scientific community. The brain biorepository houses high-quality, clinically annotated biospecimens, including paraffin-embedded and frozen tissue, serum and/or plasma.

Research access to large numbers of high-quality brain specimens, annotated with clinical data, is critical to an improved understanding of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases at the molecular level.

The UM Brain Endowment Bank staff are dedicated to biospecimen collection and management to support 21st century Neuroscience research.