Discover Britain's largest brain bank

Currently, the brain bank at Imperial College London is the largest of the 12 UK brain banks with about 1,650 specimens.

The brain bank at the Royal College of London operates on the funding of the British Association for the Association of Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis (UK's Charities Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis Society).

This bank was set up to collect, preserve and provide research samples for scientists. When the brains are brought to the bank, scientists here will conduct preservation and research to bring a breakthrough in medicine.

Steve Gentleman, a professor of neuroscience, who runs the bank, said: "If a brain is not delivered to us within 48 hours after the donor dies, they I will very difficult to preserve it intact ".

When brain samples are taken to the bank, scientists here will conduct preservation and research to bring a breakthrough in medicine.

When the brains are taken to the bank, half of them will be frozen and the other half will be fixed, soaked in chemicals for permanent preservation.

With the frozen brain, the researchers will cut or slice them into small parts, then they will be photographed before being stored in a large freezer. Only when researchers ask for brain specimens for research work, those brain samples will be removed from the freezer.

With the frozen brain, the researchers will cut or slice them into small parts, then they will be photographed before being stored in a large freezer.

With a number of brain-soaked chemicals for permanent preservation, before being fixed, researchers will store them in Tupperware boxes and store them at room temperature. Then this brain number will be sent to researchers who need living tissue.

After immobilization, the color of the brain is no longer pink and has the same agar form that will turn golden brown and firmer.

With a number of brain-soaked chemicals for permanent preservation, before being fixed, researchers will store them in Tupperware boxes and store them at room temperature.

Four weeks after being fixed, Professor Steven began to cut the brain. During the brain cutting process, the professor also closely observed each specimen. At the same time, he wrote a report himself to doctors and relatives of brain donors.

"Now many scary diseases are becoming difficult problems for doctors themselves. Sometimes doctors cannot know how the disease affects the patient's body until they study the brain. of the sick, " said Professor Steven.

While Professor Steven performs brain cutting, another neurologist will be responsible for studying patient records for disease symptoms and the drugs the donor uses.

Brain patterns were photographed again.

After the report is completed, the brain will be sent to researchers to identify different brain diseases and find ways to treat it."As a brain bank, our success is not based on the number of brains brought in, but how much of the brain we send to researchers can achieve a breakthrough in medicine. " , Professor Steven expressed.

If an orthopedic surgeon can look at the patient's gait to accurately judge the person's situation, Professor Steven can also observe changes in the brain to speculate about the type of disease. sufferers

"Sometimes it is impossible to know what a person is sick until he looks at their brain. Someday, I hope my specimens will help doctors and researchers have a deeper look at diseases that people often get, which can lead to finding a suitable drug or treatment , " Professor Steven emphasized.

Currently, the professor still calls for people to donate their brain to get more specimens for the research and analysis process.