Neuropathology & Brain Banking
Chair: Professor Paul Ince, University of SheffieldVice Chair: Professor Jim Lowe, University of Nottingham
UK Neuropathology has had a disproportionately large impact on the research agenda in dementia and neurodegeneration. This CSG, representing comprehensive cover of existing UK Brain Banks, provides a platform to maintain this competitive position.
- The Clinical Studies Group plans to:
Embed a culture of network cooperation, enabling research studies and trials to utilise resources nationally so that tissue can be collected and processed for use at other centres - Encourage and facilitate brain pathology as a ‘routine’ endpoint in clinical research
- Develop regional and sub-regional access for multi-centre trials and studies
- Develop activity to acquire control tissue and 'mental health' donations
- Develop secure resources for common standards and access in UK brain banking
Clinical research in neurodegeneration is moving towards disease modification (for example, trials of immunotherapy in Alzheimer’s disease). Pathology endpoints will greatly enhance trials in this area. Clinical diagnostic criteria applied in the most optimal settings for many disorders often show only 80 per cent accuracy compared with final pathological diagnoses. For large studies conducted across various clinical settings, including primary care, the issue of potential misdiagnosis is significant. Diagnostic audit based on autopsy diagnosis will contribute significantly to quality control of clinical research in DeNDRoN.
Acquisition of control CNS tissue for research is a major problem across the UK. The MRC-led Fundholder Strategy Group has identified this as a key objective in focusing any new resources. The CSG will work to deliver this and related key objectives. The CSG is also working with existing organisations and initiatives
- Brain UK (led by Professor James Nicoll) plans to facilitate use of existing archives of tissue in NHS neuropathology departments as a resource for clinical neuropathology research.
- Brain Net Europe 2: The CSG does not need to develop issues around governance, quality and best practice, because groups such as Brain Net Europe 2 have already done this. We will explore the possibility of using the Brain Net Europe 2 database rather than creating a new system.
Autopsy liaison staff comprise key personnel in Brain Banking. We need a more robust approach to core funding that enables this role to extend beyond those brain banks funded by MRC or medical charities to broaden the geographical coverage of UK diagnostic services and brain banking in dementia and neurodegeneration.
Developing the research agenda
The group will identify priorities for tissue-based studies in dementia and neurodegeneration, and promote brain tissue based research as a major part of the added-value of clinical studies in UK.Inter-network development
However brain banks facilitate work in mental health (for example schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) even when this is not their primary focus. We will collaborate with the stroke and mental health networks to promote tissue banking for those disorders. This CSG was established within DeNDRoN because this is where the ‘centre of gravity’ of UK neuropathology research and brain banking lies.Rather than developing parallel CSGs across multiple research networks it is more efficient to develop working groups in different areas within the DeNDRoN CSG for neuropathology and brain banking.
List of Neuropathology & Brain Banking CSG Members