The Sydney Brain Bank (SBB) is a specialised research facility established to collect brain and spinal cord tissue
from donors in order to promote research into disorders that affect the central nervous system.
The SBB is housed at and supported by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
The SBB has approval to collect, characterise and store human brain and spinal cord tissue specimens for research purposes. With the assistance of an independent scientific review committee we assess research proposals to use the tissue and distribute the specimens to nationally and internationally recognised researchers to advance knowledge of human brain and spinal cord disorders. The SBB focuses on collecting the brain and spinal cord from healthy aged donors as well as those with neurodegenerative conditions. For more information about brain donation please visit the donors section for more information.
Researchers are invited to submit proposals for studies utilising these tissues. As a specialised research facility,
the SBB also provides the letters of support required for submitting nationally and internationally competitive grant
applications. These letters provide confirmation that sufficient, appropriately prepared tissue is available for a
project at the time of the research funding application, and outlines the budget required for preparing the requested
tissue specimens. SBB staff have considerable experience in the use of human
brain and spinal cord tissue for research purposes and can provide valuable advice to researchers at all stages of the
application process.
For more information about tissue request applications and letters of support please visit the
researchers section for more information.