Background:
Research using human brain tissue has a vital role to play in increasing our understanding of the neurobiology of schizophrenia and related disorders. Such research has been limited by an inability to meet demands for well-characterized tissue from clinical populations. To help address this issue, 1Neuro-science Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (NISAD) established the ‘Gift of Hope’ Brain Donor Program (GoH). The program invites people to consent to donating their brain postmortem for medical research into neuropsychiatric disorders. At the time of death, NISAD staff coordinate and facilitate the donation. Australian and international research groups may then apply for access to use these stored tissues for research.
Methods:
As donation for research purposes is a separate and specific consent from organ donation for transplantation, donors give consent to noncoronial autopsy and donation. A clinical interview using the Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis is conducted, lifestyle and medical information is collected and neuro-psychological assessments are performed. Assessments are repeated at regular intervals to document changes in brain function. To ensure high-quality tissue for biomedical research, rapid notification protocols are in place to minimize postmortem delay. Projects are evaluated by a scientific advisory committee prior to allocation of tissues to researchers.
Results:
The program has registered 378 expressions of interest and completed 143 enrollments, including 33 donors with schizophrenia. Since 1998, three donations have been successfully facilitated and incorporated into the NSW Tissue Resource Centre.
Conclusions:
The GoH has received strong community support and will be critical to future schizophrenia research.
