Progress

MSRA Brain Bank Activities and Progress

1. Promotion of Brain Donation for MS Research
The MSRA Brain Bank actively engages in promotional activities to increase public awareness of brain donation for MS research. We also make local and international scientists aware that high quality and well-characterised MS tissue is available from the MSRA Brain Bank.

2. Recruitment of MS Brain Donors
Since our official launch in February 2008, over 1200 people with MS have registered their interest with the MSRA Brain Bank and more than 500 have consented to their tissue being used for MS research in the event of their death.

3. Collection and Storage of Material
To date, 19 MS brains have been retrieved in collaboration with the Australian Brain Bank Network, 12 of which have post-mortem intervals of less than 24 hours. We are indebted and grateful to those patients and their families who have generously donated tissue for MS Research.

4. Tissue Characterisation
Tissue processing and MS lesion characterisation is underway.

5. Tissue Distribution
MS tissue has been supplied for the following approved research projects:

• Drs Barnett and Crossett, Sydney University, “Proteomic and in-situ analysis of multiple sclerosis specific tissue alterations”
• Dr Jennings and Prof Carroll, University of Western Australia, “Remyelination failure in multiple sclerosis: insights from the optic nerve”