BrainNet Europe II (BNE II) is a network of 19 established brain banks across Europe. Having established a network of ten brain banks in preparation for BNE II we now aim to integrate new members, to spread excellence in collecting human high quality post mortem brain tissue and to foster research in the cellular and molecular basis of neurological and mental disorders and diseases, gender aspects and the ageing process. The main objectives of BNE II are: (1) To acquire and distribute well-characterised and high-quality tissues for basic research in neuroscience (2) To provide a basis and quality control system for RTD projects dealing with clinical or epidemiological aspects of neurological and psychiatric diseases (3) To standardize and harmonize neuropathological diagnosis (4) To increase the awareness of standardized neuropathological and clinical diagnosis in neurology and psychiatry at a European level (5) To develop gold standards for tissue handling, safety aspects, quality control and ethics. These standards will be the basis for using human post mortem brain tissue in new investigative techniques such as expression profiling and proteomics (6) To contribute to training and exchange of neuroscientists (7) To use modern means of information technology to exchange data within the network, to spread excellence and to disseminate information to the general public These objectives will be reached by establishing a rigorous decision making and management system resting on a Network Governing Board and being assisted by a SME accountant company. Diseases of high frequency and outstanding medical and social importance such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, motoneuron, prion disease, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and affective disorders will be the focus of the network. In addition we will contribute to research in rare diseases, a research branch, which can only be worked on successfully on a European level.
Keywords:
brain bank, neuroscience, genomics, proteomics
|
