MRC Brain Banks: Joint Application to Underpin Neuroscience Research
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Clinical Neurosciences
Abstract
This application plans to support research into the causes and potential treatment of a range of diseases affecting the
brain, some of which have been identified as priorities for research, such as dementia. The UK has a network of
established Brain Banks that provide human tissue samples to a wide range of researchers. Human tissue samples have
allowed a better understanding of the mechanisms operating in these complex disorders and have already aided the
development of treatments for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
This application will support four Brain Banks in Edinburgh, London, Newcastle and Oxford. These banks each have areas
of particular interest, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and motor neurone disease. However, in addition to the
collection of tissues samples from patients with brain disorders, it is also essential to collect normal tissue samples for use
as controls in research. Two of the Banks have a major focus in this area, so this application will support the collection of
both disease and normal tissue samples.
The banks will support scientific research by providing human tissue samples in an efficient and cost effective manner,
while ensuring the samples provided are of the high quality required by researchers. The banks have worked to improve
their efficiency, reducing the time required to provide the samples to researchers. Details of the samples available in each
of the banks are included in a database, which is accessible through the internet. This allows researchers to see what
samples are available and how to request these samples for their research in an easy way that will save time and speed up
progress.
All four Brain Banks in this application have approval form an Ethics Committee, to ensure that their working practices meet
nationally agreed standards that apply to work with human tissue samples. The work of each Bank is overseen by a local
steering committee that includes members of the public and ethics experts as well as scientists and pathologists. Brain
Banking is expensive, but the operating costs of these four banks are far less than their equivalents in Europe and in the
USA.
The challenges of developing treatments for complex diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are
considerable, but the Brain Banks in this application will play an important role in underpinning the scientific research in
these national priority areas.
brain, some of which have been identified as priorities for research, such as dementia. The UK has a network of
established Brain Banks that provide human tissue samples to a wide range of researchers. Human tissue samples have
allowed a better understanding of the mechanisms operating in these complex disorders and have already aided the
development of treatments for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
This application will support four Brain Banks in Edinburgh, London, Newcastle and Oxford. These banks each have areas
of particular interest, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and motor neurone disease. However, in addition to the
collection of tissues samples from patients with brain disorders, it is also essential to collect normal tissue samples for use
as controls in research. Two of the Banks have a major focus in this area, so this application will support the collection of
both disease and normal tissue samples.
The banks will support scientific research by providing human tissue samples in an efficient and cost effective manner,
while ensuring the samples provided are of the high quality required by researchers. The banks have worked to improve
their efficiency, reducing the time required to provide the samples to researchers. Details of the samples available in each
of the banks are included in a database, which is accessible through the internet. This allows researchers to see what
samples are available and how to request these samples for their research in an easy way that will save time and speed up
progress.
All four Brain Banks in this application have approval form an Ethics Committee, to ensure that their working practices meet
nationally agreed standards that apply to work with human tissue samples. The work of each Bank is overseen by a local
steering committee that includes members of the public and ethics experts as well as scientists and pathologists. Brain
Banking is expensive, but the operating costs of these four banks are far less than their equivalents in Europe and in the
USA.
The challenges of developing treatments for complex diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are
considerable, but the Brain Banks in this application will play an important role in underpinning the scientific research in
these national priority areas.
Technical Summary
This joint application from the MRC Brain Banks in Edinburgh, London, Newcastle and Oxford is submitted in accordance
with the wishes of the MRC Neuroscience and Mental Health Board (NMHB). After the last funding round for the MRC
Brain Banks in 2011, NMHB indicated that a future joint application would be preferred and that the applicants should
demonstrate progress in efficiency and improving standards of work in accordance with an agreed set of metrics. This
application fulfils this request, and aims to underpin neuroscience research in the UK by providing high-quality human brain
tissue samples and data in the formats required by researchers in both academic and industrial settings. The four banks in
this application together cover the collection of human tissue samples from a range of major neurological diseases, and
normal tissue samples to act as controls. This provides an invaluable resource to underpin neuroscience research in UK,
particularly in recently identified priority areas such as dementia.
The banks have demonstrated in this application that they can work to the standards set in the metrics agreed with the
NMHB, and have improved their efficiency of operations. The banks already support a number of major researchers in
academia and industry in UK and overseas, including several who are currently funded by MRC. The provision of high
quality tissue samples and accompanying data is essential for the success of these projects; the MRC brain banks
constitute a critical infrastructure for this research.
In order to develop this important work further, funding for a 5 year period is requested; earlier funding awards for periods
of 2 years has not been conducive to long term planning and strategy. The costs of brain banking in the UK compare very
favourably with those in Europe and in the USA; over the next 5 years the banks will continue to work to improve efficiency
of operation and to operate a cost recovery programme in keeping with MR
with the wishes of the MRC Neuroscience and Mental Health Board (NMHB). After the last funding round for the MRC
Brain Banks in 2011, NMHB indicated that a future joint application would be preferred and that the applicants should
demonstrate progress in efficiency and improving standards of work in accordance with an agreed set of metrics. This
application fulfils this request, and aims to underpin neuroscience research in the UK by providing high-quality human brain
tissue samples and data in the formats required by researchers in both academic and industrial settings. The four banks in
this application together cover the collection of human tissue samples from a range of major neurological diseases, and
normal tissue samples to act as controls. This provides an invaluable resource to underpin neuroscience research in UK,
particularly in recently identified priority areas such as dementia.
The banks have demonstrated in this application that they can work to the standards set in the metrics agreed with the
NMHB, and have improved their efficiency of operations. The banks already support a number of major researchers in
academia and industry in UK and overseas, including several who are currently funded by MRC. The provision of high
quality tissue samples and accompanying data is essential for the success of these projects; the MRC brain banks
constitute a critical infrastructure for this research.
In order to develop this important work further, funding for a 5 year period is requested; earlier funding awards for periods
of 2 years has not been conducive to long term planning and strategy. The costs of brain banking in the UK compare very
favourably with those in Europe and in the USA; over the next 5 years the banks will continue to work to improve efficiency
of operation and to operate a cost recovery programme in keeping with MR
Planned Impact
The activities of the brain banks will be of major significance to neuroscience researchers in the UK and the banks plan to
capitalise upon this by promoting the availability of their tissue samples during the course of this grant, primarily by the
MRC database, which will give details of all samples currently available, including control samples. This promotion will not
be confined to academic researchers, but also through the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries the applicants
will promote the availability of the tissue samples in their banks and will engage with both academic and industrial
researchers to help provide the samples they require.
The brain banks already supply tissue samples to commercial companies for their research and development purposes and
it is planned to continue and develop these contacts within an appropriate framework.
The applicants are involved in a number of local, national and international committees and bodies that relate to research.
Policymakers within both government (DH) and non-governmental organisations and regulators (e.g. the Human Tissue
Authority) will benefit from information arising from the use of human brain tissue samples and also from the general
promotion of brain donation in neuroscience research.
The applicants have previously engaged with museums (including the Wellcome Trust museum) and charities including the
Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer's Research UK, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Parkinson's UK to provide expert advice
on brain banking. The applicants also work within the committee structure of these charities to advise on their research
activities, particularly those that might involve the collection and use of human tissue samples.
The wider public is likely to benefit from this planned research, particularly if the tissue samples provided result in improved
diagnosis or treatment for patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, the promotion of brain banking and the
value of brain donation for research will help raise public awareness of the challenges of dementia and neurodegenerative
diseases, and help make individuals take an informed choice on this complex matter.
It is likely that the government may benefit from this research, particularly in respect to the activities of the Ministerial Action
Group on Dementia Research and the Prime Minister's Challenge on dementia, within which brain banking is
acknowledged as an essential requirement to support researchers in this field. The support requested in this application
will be of wider benefit to these government initiatives and the research arising from this work, supported by other
government funded bodies including NIHR.
Finally, MRC is likely to benefit from this research, since the applicants already provide large numbers of tissue samples to
researchers such as Professor John Hardy, UCL, who are in receipt of significant funding from MRC to undertake research
projects that are critically dependent on a continuous supply of high quality tissue samples that will be collected and made
available during the course of this proposal.
capitalise upon this by promoting the availability of their tissue samples during the course of this grant, primarily by the
MRC database, which will give details of all samples currently available, including control samples. This promotion will not
be confined to academic researchers, but also through the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries the applicants
will promote the availability of the tissue samples in their banks and will engage with both academic and industrial
researchers to help provide the samples they require.
The brain banks already supply tissue samples to commercial companies for their research and development purposes and
it is planned to continue and develop these contacts within an appropriate framework.
The applicants are involved in a number of local, national and international committees and bodies that relate to research.
Policymakers within both government (DH) and non-governmental organisations and regulators (e.g. the Human Tissue
Authority) will benefit from information arising from the use of human brain tissue samples and also from the general
promotion of brain donation in neuroscience research.
The applicants have previously engaged with museums (including the Wellcome Trust museum) and charities including the
Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer's Research UK, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Parkinson's UK to provide expert advice
on brain banking. The applicants also work within the committee structure of these charities to advise on their research
activities, particularly those that might involve the collection and use of human tissue samples.
The wider public is likely to benefit from this planned research, particularly if the tissue samples provided result in improved
diagnosis or treatment for patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, the promotion of brain banking and the
value of brain donation for research will help raise public awareness of the challenges of dementia and neurodegenerative
diseases, and help make individuals take an informed choice on this complex matter.
It is likely that the government may benefit from this research, particularly in respect to the activities of the Ministerial Action
Group on Dementia Research and the Prime Minister's Challenge on dementia, within which brain banking is
acknowledged as an essential requirement to support researchers in this field. The support requested in this application
will be of wider benefit to these government initiatives and the research arising from this work, supported by other
government funded bodies including NIHR.
Finally, MRC is likely to benefit from this research, since the applicants already provide large numbers of tissue samples to
researchers such as Professor John Hardy, UCL, who are in receipt of significant funding from MRC to undertake research
projects that are critically dependent on a continuous supply of high quality tissue samples that will be collected and made
available during the course of this proposal.
People |
ORCID iD |
Olaf Ansorge (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Mold M
(2018)
Aluminium in brain tissue in autism.
in Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)
Mollink J
(2019)
White matter changes in the perforant path area in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
in Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Mollink J
(2017)
Evaluating fibre orientation dispersion in white matter: Comparison of diffusion MRI, histology and polarized light imaging.
in NeuroImage
Monzón-Sandoval J
(2020)
Human-Specific Transcriptome of Ventral and Dorsal Midbrain Dopamine Neurons.
in Annals of neurology
Moore GR
(2016)
Complement and Humoral Adaptive Immunity in the Human Choroid Plexus: Roles for Stromal Concretions, Basement Membranes, and Epithelium.
in Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology
Muñoz U
(2022)
Main Role of Antibodies in Demyelination and Axonal Damage in Multiple Sclerosis.
in Cellular and molecular neurobiology
Nolan M
(2024)
Betz cells of the primary motor cortex
in Journal of Comparative Neurology
Nolan M
(2021)
Isolated homozygous R217X OPTN mutation causes knock-out of functional C-terminal optineurin domains and associated oligodendrogliopathy-dominant ALS-TDP.
in Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
Nolan M
(2016)
Pathogenesis of FUS-associated ALS and FTD: insights from rodent models.
in Acta neuropathologica communications
Norton EJ
(2019)
Cell Senescence and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in the Brains of People Aged 80 Years and Older.
in Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology
Pallebage-Gamarallage M
(2018)
Dissecting the pathobiology of altered MRI signal in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A post mortem whole brain sampling strategy for the integration of ultra-high-field MRI and quantitative neuropathology.
in BMC neuroscience
Pamphlett R
(2016)
Locus ceruleus neurons in people with autism contain no histochemically-detectable mercury.
in Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine
Patel T
(2018)
Whole-exome sequencing of the BDR cohort: evidence to support the role of the PILRA gene in Alzheimer's disease.
in Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Pennington C
(2020)
Mixed neuropathology in frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration
Peuralinna T
(2015)
Genome-wide association study of neocortical Lewy-related pathology.
in Annals of clinical and translational neurology
Preda V
(2015)
The Wnt signalling cascade and the adherens junction complex in craniopharyngioma tumorigenesis.
in Endocrine pathology
Prokopenko I
(2019)
Alzheimer's disease pathology explains association between dementia with Lewy bodies and APOE-e4/TOMM40 long poly-T repeat allele variants
in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
Purro SA
(2018)
Transmission of amyloid-ß protein pathology from cadaveric pituitary growth hormone.
in Nature
Rajkumar AP
(2020)
Postmortem Cortical Transcriptomics of Lewy Body Dementia Reveal Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Lack of Neuroinflammation.
in The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Rodriguez-Perdigon M
(2016)
JNK: A Putative Link Between Insulin Signaling and VGLUT1 in Alzheimer's Disease.
in Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
Saadoun S
(2015)
Role of membrane complement regulators in neuromyelitis optica.
in Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
Sahin P
(2013)
The cell survival kinase SGK1 and its targets FOXO3a and NDRG1 in aged human brain.
in Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Shtaya A
(2021)
Innate Immune Anti-Inflammatory Response in Human Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
in Stroke
Simpson JE
(2016)
Neuronal DNA damage response-associated dysregulation of signalling pathways and cholesterol metabolism at the earliest stages of Alzheimer-type pathology.
in Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Simpson JE
(2015)
A neuronal DNA damage response is detected at the earliest stages of Alzheimer's neuropathology and correlates with cognitive impairment in the Medical Research Council's Cognitive Function and Ageing Study ageing brain cohort.
in Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Sinclair LI
(2017)
Effect of APOE Genotype on Synaptic Proteins in Earlier Adult Life.
in Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
Skrobot OA
(2016)
Vascular cognitive impairment neuropathology guidelines (VCING): the contribution of cerebrovascular pathology to cognitive impairment.
in Brain : a journal of neurology
Smith AR
(2019)
A cross-brain regions study of ANK1 DNA methylation in different neurodegenerative diseases.
in Neurobiology of aging
Smith AR
(2016)
Increased DNA methylation near TREM2 is consistently seen in the superior temporal gyrus in Alzheimer's disease brain.
in Neurobiology of aging
Solas M
(2013)
CB2 receptor and amyloid pathology in frontal cortex of Alzheimer's disease patients.
in Neurobiology of aging
Sun W
(2016)
Histone Acetylome-wide Association Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
in Cell
Taipa R
(2018)
Inflammatory pathology markers (activated microglia and reactive astrocytes) in early and late onset Alzheimer disease: a post mortem study.
in Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Taipa R
(2017)
Patterns of Microglial Cell Activation in Alzheimer Disease and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration.
in Neuro-degenerative diseases
Tan MG
(2014)
Decreased rabphilin 3A immunoreactivity in Alzheimer's disease is associated with Aß burden.
in Neurochemistry international
Tanudjojo B
(2021)
Phenotypic manifestation of a-synuclein strains derived from Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy in human dopaminergic neurons.
in Nature communications
Tendler BC
(2021)
A method to remove the influence of fixative concentration on postmortem T2 maps using a kinetic tensor model.
in Human brain mapping
Tendler BC
(2020)
Modeling an equivalent b-value in diffusion-weighted steady-state free precession.
in Magnetic resonance in medicine
Trinh J
(2016)
DNM3 and genetic modifiers of age of onset in LRRK2 Gly2019Ser parkinsonism: a genome-wide linkage and association study
in The Lancet Neurology
Turnquist C
(2014)
STAT1-induced ASPP2 transcription identifies a link between neuroinflammation, cell polarity, and tumor suppression.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Ugarte A
(2015)
Decreased levels of guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are associated with cognitive decline and amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease.
in Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Uppal N
(2014)
Neuropathology of the anterior midcingulate cortex in young children with autism.
in Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology
Vaikath NN
(2015)
Generation and characterization of novel conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies for a-synuclein pathology.
in Neurobiology of disease
Vallortigara J
(2014)
Dynamin1 concentration in the prefrontal cortex is associated with cognitive impairment in Lewy body dementia.
in F1000Research
Watkins LM
(2016)
Complement is activated in progressive multiple sclerosis cortical grey matter lesions.
in Journal of neuroinflammation
Watson-Scales S
(2018)
Analysis of motor dysfunction in Down Syndrome reveals motor neuron degeneration
in PLOS Genetics
Wei WC
(2017)
Functional expression of calcium-permeable canonical transient receptor potential 4-containing channels promotes migration of medulloblastoma cells.
in The Journal of physiology
Description | Tissue Donation in the OUH Hospitals |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Staff training and patient information concerning tissue donation after death has been rolled out across the OUH Hospitals as a result of our project. |
Description | Brains for Dementia Research |
Amount | £498,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Alzheimer’s Brain Bank UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2013 |
End | 04/2018 |
Title | Brain and spinal cord Tissue for Research |
Description | The principle aim of this research project (G1000691) is to provide national and international researchers with high-quality biological samples with associated clinical and quality data. |
Type Of Material | Biological samples |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Tissue is being used in a range of projects by academic and industry partners. Output data (samples etc) are available through a regulated requesting system. |
Title | Developed microproteomic technology for human brain (motor cortex and cerebellum) analysis |
Description | Analysing the proteome of specific cell types in an unbiased fashion is technically challenging. We have developed a novel way of obtaining up to 2500 proteins from as few as 200 cells of the human brain. This will help us in dissecting in more detail what makes specific cells vulnerable to neurodegenerative disease like MND. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Our method has been adopted by several local and international research groups. |
URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30768908 |
Title | Liquid nitrogen vapour freezing |
Description | Protocol for systematic, rapid freezing of anatomically preserved slices of human brain tissue using a liquid nitrogen vapour storage/transportation dewar. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Pilot analysis suggests greater preservation of microscopic anatomy and no ice crystal artefacts. Accurate dissection of frozen region of interest facilitated by preserved anatomy of coronal slices. Freezing method adopted or about to be adopted by other centres (Edinburgh, Autism BrainNet nodes) |
Title | Thomas Willis Brain Collection database |
Description | This is a database of all brain, spinal cord and peripheral organ tissue available for research within the Oxford Brain Bank's Thomas Willis Brain Collection. The archive contains over 6,000 cases from the 1960s to present. The data is available to researchers through Brain UK. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | We regularly receive requests from researchers for tissue of patients with rare conditions |
Description | Autism BrainNet |
Organisation | Autism Speaks |
Department | Autism BrainNet |
Country | United States |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Autism BrainNet have offered the Oxford Brain Bank the opportunity to become the first non-USA node of the Autism BrainNet network, with a start date of 1st January 2015. The tissue to be retrieved includes brains from patients with Autism and other related developmental diseases, as well as young controls with sudden death or diseases outside the nervous system. |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding will be provided on a per brain basis for retrieving and making the tissue available to the network for research. |
Impact | Partnership starting January 2015 |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Alzheimer Research UK Open Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | A full day with ~150 attendees about clinical and 'translational' brain research with a focus on dementia. Presentation and discussion on the importance of brain banking to understand pathogenesis and outcomes of treatments etc. Interest by the public to explore tissue donation - reflected in pick-up of leaflets and discussions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Autism Research Oxford Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Workshop gave rise to an offer by Autism BrainNet for Oxford Brain Bank to join their network, and served as a platform for discussing Autism Research in Oxford Dr Ansorge invited Autism BrainNet's project manager to visit the Oxford Brain Bank facilities, she visited in July. Dr Ansorge then visited the facilities of the New York node of the network and met up with all other node directors. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Brain Awareness Week |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | An afternoon of interactive activities with Oxford researchers and students from Oxford University Cortex Club as part of Brain Awareness Week. Drop-in suitable for children aged 6 upwards. The activities ranged from video games explaining the pathophysiology of Alzheimers Disease, to live microscope and EEG demonstrations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/gastrophysics-brain-aware/ |
Description | British Association for Tissue Banking |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Health professionals |
Results and Impact | Presentation of rationale, ethical framework and strategy for brain banking to the national annual meeting of the BATB. Better integration of tissue donation for transplant and research. Understanding that these two activities can be linked. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Invited Q&A |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Science Oxford screened the Oscar-nominated documentary Life, Animated - A mix of animated storytelling and real life narration that doesn't flinch from exploring the emotional highs and lows that accompany a life with autism. The screening was "followed by a talk by University of Oxford neuroscience expert Steven Chance". SThe Ultimate Picture Palace and Science Oxford invited him to speak and do Q&A. Over 80 people in the audience attended for the Q&A and asked questions. As a result he has also been invited to speak at a secondary school by one of the teachers who attended. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | MRC Bbank Network Donation Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Very useful workshop concerning potential, risks, experiences and ethical considerations about UK brain banking. Discussion with funders, users and scientists. Development of a coherent strategy for UK brain tissue banking for neuroscience research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | NIHR BRC Oxford Open Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation to the public of the link between researching and understanding common brain diseases and human brain tissue donation. Increase in enquiries about brain tissue donation by memebers of the public. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Oxford Brain Bank Open Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 80 participants visited the Oxford Brain Bank. During the day they attended a talk about tissue banking by Dr Ansorge, visited the Neuropathology laboratory and were shown brain anatomy and how Alzheimer's disease affects brain morphology with Professor Esiri, learnt about tissue preparation with Oxford Brain Bank technicians, looked at brain pathology down the microscope with Dr Ansorge, learnt about new techniques and equipment in tissue banking with Connor Scott, and talked about research outputs and research projects with Dr De Luca. The participants were very enthusiastic about the event and many reported wanting to engage more with the Oxford Brain Bank and to read more about research outputs related to brain and spinal cord donation. Several relatives of donors were present and reported a greater understanding of the processes that follow brain donation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Oxford Parkinson's UK group site visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | "Value of brain banking and what Neuropathology can teach us about Parkinson's disease?" Oxford Parkinson's disease group are now aware of and supportive of brain banking efforts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Parkinson's Disease Local Branch Open Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Education of patients and relatives as well as health care professionals about the impact brain tissue research has made on our understanding of the pathobiology of Parkinson's disease and other degenerative conditions. Raised public awareness of our project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Test For Parkinson's Disease Moves Step Closer |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Media article printed on BBC website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37196619 |
Description | Visit from The London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | LIYSF is a two week residential event held at Imperial College London, with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world class laboratories and universities. LIYSF attracts 500 of the world's leading young scientists aged 17-21 years old from more than 65 participating countries. There is an active social calendar with events designed to enable those from around the world to learn about different cultures. The scope of LIYSF extends further than broadening scientific understanding to engage students in education on other cultures and develop lasting, international friendships. 30 students visited the Neuropathology laboratory and enjoyed a teaching session on brain anatomy and pathology with Dr Ansorge. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.liysf.org.uk/ |