Ethics and management

All the brain banks in the network operate within the legal requirements laid down by the Human Tissue Authority (Human Tissue Act 2004), which governs collection, storage, sample distribution for research and disposal of post mortem tissue.

All potential donor recruitment and clinic assessments are undertaken in compliance with the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and other good clinical practice guidelines.

Each Brain Bank and the Coordinating Centre is governed by a management committee of expert doctors and scientists (in neuropathology, neuroscience and neuropsychiatry), independent experts and lay members. The tissue and data access committees look at each application to ensure tissue and data is used wisely, responsibly and efficiently.

Staff

All our research field team are dedicated professionals who undergo regular refresher training in clinical practice.