Collection of human brain tissues after death for research purposes
Official title: THE NIH NEUROBIOBANK AND TISSUE REPOSITORY
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11327200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for families who are willing to donate brain tissue after a loved one passes away, so researchers can better understand brain diseases and improve treatments for mental health and neurological issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $624,648 |
| NIH project number | 75N95019C00048-P00017-9999-1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327200 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced neurological or mental health disorders and their families who are willing to donate brain tissue post-mortem.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not willing or able to participate in post-mortem donation will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the collection of post-mortem human brain tissues to create a centralized repository for researchers studying various brain-related diseases and disorders. By gathering these biospecimens, the NIH aims to enhance the availability of critical resources for understanding mental health issues and neurological conditions. Patients and their families can contribute to this effort by allowing their brain tissues to be used for scientific research after death, which could lead to advancements in treatment and understanding of these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve our understanding of brain diseases and lead to better treatments for mental health disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research initiatives involving brain tissue repositories have shown success in advancing our understanding of neurological diseases, indicating that this approach is both valuable and tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blanchard, Thomas — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Blanchard, Thomas
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.