Brain
Recovery Clinic.
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Expanding
on the internationally recognised
Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank, the multi-tissue Biobank
provides human tissues and cells in conjunction with clinical,
neurophysiological and brain imaging information, for expanded lab-based
research on human brain disease. The Biobank secures and significantly expands
the human brain tissue and cell bank resources, and encompasses other human
tissues (e.g. blood, serum, blood cells, skin fibroblasts, muscle biopsies) for
research and diagnostic purposes into human brain disorders.
The storage facilities are located in the fifth floor laboratories of the
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Grafton Campus, forming an integral part
of the human brain research programme.
There is good evidence that
peripheral cells and tissues of people with brain diseases show abnormalities
which are specific to these diseases, so being able to study these changes means
that our scientists can validate the
peripheral cell changes and understand better the mechanisms underlying the
brain diseases.
Potential applications of the Biobank include:
- Improving early and accurate diagnosis of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s disease through the research identification of specific biomarkers
for each disease
- Research to identify predictors of brain disease in order to apply new
treatments to prevent the onset of brain disease
- Opportunities for intervention at the very earliest stage of the disease
- Monitoring and understanding the progression of brain disease during life with
long-term widespread studies, in diseases such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s disease
- Capability to directly test new drug treatments on diseased cells to fast-track
drug development from the lab to the patient
- Identification of new treatment opportunities to slow down disease progression
to give a higher quality of life for people affected by brain disease
- Early safety testing of new drugs and therapies on human cells
The Biobank has been generously supported with a founding donation from the
Hugh Green Foundation.
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In order to better understand the mechanisms of brain disorders, we need to
further develop our cutting-edge preclinical research technologies. Underpinning
the Biobank and Brain Recovery Clinic will be the wealth and expanse of our
internationally renowned neuroscience research.
Many brain disorders like stroke, brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s
disease, epilepsy, motor neurone disease and Huntington’s disease remain poorly
understood. Research into the basic biology of the genetics, cells, progression
and functioning of these disorders is critical.
The Centre for Brain Research has established world-class leads in:
- Pioneering stem cell biology and possible treatment approaches for brain
diseases
- Gene therapy for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy
- Innovative treatments for stroke recovery
- Human brain studies and cell culture models for all the major diseases
- Genetic models for brain diseases such as Huntington’s disease
- Novel treatments for brain and spinal cord injury
- Ground-breaking therapies for prevention of brain damage in new-born babies
- Hormonal influences on brain disease and related disorders like obesity
The Integrative Neuroscience Facilities (INF) include laboratories in the
School of Biological Sciences and the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Grafton Campus, and involve both in
vivo and ex vivo technologies. The Facilties include the Spinal Cord Injury
Research Facility, which was established with a founding donation from the
CatWalk Trust.
The expanded INF provides a vital link
between basic neuroscience and the establishment of novel therapies in the
clinic. Most importantly it ensures researchers at the CBR remain at the
leading edge of international neuroscience, and provides an exciting new
opportunity to establish vital new links with commercial opportunities both
locally and internationally.
Philanthropic support is being sought to further develop our world-class
preclinical research facilities and technologies. Our scientists have identified
the need for a coordinated facility offering a wide range of surgical,
behavioural, physiological, transgenic and other capabilities to ensure the CBR
remains at the leading edge of international neuroscience research.research
efforts across the CBR. In order to better understand the mechanisms of brain
disorders, we need to further develop our cutting edge basic research
technologies.
