NIH Establishes Human Brain Biobank for Neuroscience Research

The U.S. National Institutes of Health is establishing a network of five brain biobanks to unify and coordinate access to human brain tissue for neuroscience research. It is hoped that by facilitating this access through contractual agreements rather than leaving NIH-funded researchers and institutions to obtain tissues on their own, more efficient and productive research will be achieved for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, and psychiatric illnesses.

The NIH NeuroBioBank initiative also includes public education resources and assistance for those wishing to donate their brains or the brains of family members to advance human-relevant neuroscience research. Other brain banks are being encouraged to partner with the NIH by making their tissues available for this initiative.