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Rich Easton: Why we support the bank Rich Easton is the CEO of the Neurological Foundation. The Neurological Foundation currently provides $435,000 of funding to the Brain Bank each year. “This time last year we renewed another five-year relationship with the Brain Bank. This continuing support is on the back of the excellent relationship we’ve had with Sir Richard and his team over the past 25 years. “Having this hugely valuable resource means that neurological researchers in New Zealand and the world can do their studies on human brains, rather than having to use mouse, rat or sheep models. While animal models can be useful, human brain tissue is always preferable. These researchers are trying to find cures or better ways of managing and coping with neurological conditions, and that’s what we’re about too.” “Before we approved the renewal of funding, our council talked about it at length. Along with funding research, scholarships, fellowships and the position of Chair of Clinical Neurology at Auckland University, they recognise that the Brain Bank is one of our core pillars. Continuing our funding will ensure the asset will benefit future generations of researchers and New Zealanders.” How can you help the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank? There are two ways you can contribute to the future of the Brain Bank. You can donate your brain and/or you can donate money. The Brain Bank requires normal brains, as well as those affected by a neurological disease or condition. There are both ethical and legal procedures relating to the acquisition of post-mortem brains, which are strictly followed. Patients and family members usually decide to donate their brain years before death, so when the time comes the bequest process is both sensitive and efficient. It is scientifically important that the tissue is collected as soon after death as possible, ideally within 2 to 12 hours, and that all human brain tissue is carefully documented and stored. Ethically approved procedures have been developed for the acquisition of post-mortem normal and diseased human brains. Normal brains and brain tissue from people with Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Epilepsy, Motor Neuron, Stroke and Schizophrenia are obtained from the Auckland City Hospital mortuary. Additional Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease brains are air-freighted from other centres throughout New Zealand. A special donor information pack is available for potential brain donors and families, detailing the necessary procedures of bequeathing tissue to the Brain Bank. To request a pack, email brainbank@auckland.ac.nz or call 09 923 699. A dedicated fund has been established for you to make a donation that will help to fund the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank. To make a donation visit neurological.org.nz or call 0508 272 467 . How the Brain Bank is making a difference A full report of the Brain Bank’s research achievements to date will be issued later this year, however here are some highlights: • Using tissue from the Brain Bank, Richard and his team were the first group of researchers in the world to show that the human brain makes new brain cells continuously. The brain has stem cells that are able to make new brain cells throughout our lives. This finding represents a revolutionary change in science’s perception of the human brain. • Brain Bank tissue has also enabled researchers to understand that Huntington’s disease is not just a single pathology; it affects multiple parts of the brain in different ways, according to the symptom profile. • When brains are collected within the optimal time frame, it’s possible to study and grow live brain cells, which offers massive benefits for neurological research. Professor Mike Dragunow has been growing brain cells to see the difference between cells affected by Parkinson’s disease and normal brain cells. For Huntington’s disease, he is looking at how cell death might be prevented. • Growing human brain cells from live tissue is also fast- tracking the development of new drugs, a process that is slow and often unsuccessful when only animal brains are available for research. • Genomic scans make it possible to look at all the genes in each brain, allowing researchers to better understand genetic links to some neurological conditions. Headlines 11