What the Parkinson's Brain Bank does
 The Parkinson's Brain Bank collects the brain,
spinal cord and a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from people - with
and without Parkinson's - after death.
We provide this brain tissue to researchers around the world who
are working towards a cure for Parkinson's.
Find out how to become a brain
donor
Watch Dr David Dexter, Scientific Director
of the Parkinson's Brain Bank, describing the work of the Brain
Bank 
Collecting brains
The Parkinson's Brain Bank team is always ready to respond to the
death of a registered brain donor. Since this can happen at
any time, we are on call 24 hours a day.
Once a donor has died, our team liaises closely with the family. We
handle all the arrangements for the donation. With help from the
funeral directors, the donor is taken to a local hospital where the
brain, spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid tissue are removed. The
donor's body is then returned to the funeral parlour and we collect
the brain from the hospital.
Our team aims to collect a donated brain within 24 hours of death.
This ensures that it arrives in the best possible condition at our
laboratories. But we can accept brains up to 48 hours after
death.
We are prepared to travel anywhere in the UK to collect donated
brains, and our team has successfully retrieved brains from
Aberdeen to Jersey within 24 hours.
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Preserving brains
As soon as the Parkinson's Brain Bank team brings a donated brain
to our laboratories, it is weighed, measured and examined.
Next, the brain is divided into two halves, which are preserved
differently. Preserving protects all the vital proteins, genes and
chemicals in the nerve cells.
The right half of the brain is preserved by quickly freezing it,
while the left half is placed in a fixative for about four weeks.
Before freezing, tissue samples are taken from 21 different
points and the nerve cells are carefully studied under a
microscope.
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Studying nerve cells
 When Parkinson's is suspected, a clinical diagnosis is
made. But it is only by examining the brain after death that
scientists can confirm whether the person had Parkinson's or
not.
The Parkinson's Brain Bank team carries out modern dye-based
techniques on the fixed brain tissue, which stain certain proteins
in the nerve cells and tissue. This gives a definitive diagnosis of
Parkinson's and highlights any changes in the cells caused by the
condition.
Our neuropathologist then writes up the diagnosis. At the same time
our clinician writes up an assessment of the donor's symptoms based
upon their medical history and lifestyle notes. Both records form
the case report that is made available to the donor's next of kin
and to researchers who will use the brain tissue.
Image: Science Photo Library
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Providing tissue to
researchers
Since 2002, the Parkinson's Brain Bank has supplied tissue to more
than 80 research projects around the world – including projects in
the UK, Europe, USA and Canada. To help as many research projects
as possible, each brain is divided into hundreds of tissue samples.
These samples are stored securely at the Brain Bank.
When researchers require brain tissue for their projects, they
apply directly to us. The Parkinson's Brain Bank has a panel of
scientific experts that carefully reviews each project. If a
project application is approved, we match the researcher's request
with the tissue available.
Read more information about how the
Parkinson's Brain Bank supports researchers
Examples of research projects using brain tissue can be found in
our Brain Bank newsletter
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