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Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center

By Mary Kugler, R.N., About.com

Created: February 6, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Helping scientists help patients since 1961: The Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center was established in 1961 to provide a vital service to neuroscientists. The Center collects, stores, and distributes donated tissue to research scientists around the world. It provides researchers with pre- and post-mortem brains, spinal cords, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, blood cells and urine to use in their investigations of neurological and psychiatric diseases.
Essential for research: Although many research studies can be performed on animals, there are a number of neurological and psychological diseases which only affect human beings. For these studies, researchers must have tissue from individuals affected by the disorders.
Gift of Hope anatomical donor program: The Gift of Hope program helps interested persons and their families arrange to donate tissue. Unlike general anatomical gift programs, the Center offers the donor with a neurological or psychological disorder the opportunity to aid research in that disorder.

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