Any researcher wishing to access tissue can either approach us informally, to confirm that appropriate material exists for the study, or by a formal application, see the BRAIN UK Forms Store in the help section.  We are very happy to consider all types of studies. Applications are accepted from studies no matter how small or large. For example, single cases studies, tissue for immunohistochemistry controls, pilot studies of half a dozen cases, student projects, tissue from your own archive, up to studies of 100s of cases, if available.

BRAIN UK has a rapid application assessment process, with an approval decision made on the majority of applications within a 2 week period.  This can represent a large time saving compared to making individual ethics applications and utilizes contacts that BRAIN UK have to locate tissue.  Most studies can be covered by the ethics favourable opinion that BRAIN UK has received.  When tissue is located and identified, access to tissue is then negotiated with the local custodians of the tissue, with investigators funding the technical costs involved in retrieving, processing and transporting the tissue.

In order to approve a project we require sufficient information about the proposed research that will enable assessment of the validity, methodology, peer review process, funding and contribution the proposed work will make to understanding in neuroscience. Please ensure that applications are complete. Details of the stages of the application and an example of the process is given on the following pages.