NIMH increases efforts for human brain tissue collection, distribution for autism research

The NIMH has signed an agreement with the Foundation Associates LLC to establish a nationwide effort for the collection, storage and distribution of postmortem human brain tissue for autism research.

“The pace of research is dependent on the availability of high-quality brain tissue, and the need for donor tissue from individuals both with and without an autism spectrum disorder has never been greater,” the NIMH wrote in a press release. “This collaboration will leverage the advantages of public and private efforts to collect vital brain specimens to advance our understanding of [autism spectrum disorder (ASD)] and related disorders.”

Under the agreement, the NIH NeuroBioBank and the Autism BrainNet, two independent networks of human brain tissue repositories, will jointly increase their efforts to enforce best practices of collection and distribution of these resources.

Bruce Cuthbert

To do so, the networks will develop a standard for brain donation protocols to be used by personnel at tissue collection and research sites across the United States This includes procedures for obtaining consent, ensuring privacy, processing and maintaining donor tissue, and collecting donors’ clinical, medical and education records.

The NIH NeuroBioBank and the Autism BrainNet will keep a catalog of available samples and data from both repositories and enforce fair tissue distribution rules, according to the release.

“One of the best ways for us to fully understand the molecular and cellular characteristics associated with the development and progression of ASD is to study brain tissue from individuals with ASD,” Bruce Cuthbert, PhD, acting director of the NIMH, said in the release. “This unified effort will allow researchers to generate new data, which will enhance our understanding of this disorder and ultimately speed progress toward new and personalized interventions for individuals across the autism spectrum.”