WABASH VALLEY NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH BANK

(WVNRB)

Donation protocol / Financial donations and past contributors / Mission statement / Tissue harvesting and storage protocol

Taihung Duong, Ph.D., Director

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Roy W. Geib, Ph.D., Bashar M. Kashlan, M.D., Roland M. Kohr, M.D., Randall Stevens, M.D.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Wabash Valley Neurological Research Bank (WVNRB) was established to support medical research on the dementing disorders associated with aging.

The WVNRB collects, stores and distributes to researchers donated brain and related tissues from normal and affected patients. The specimens are used in research projects in critical areas such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc...

Donation protocol

To obtain Donor Registration and Authorization forms, please:

Donors are persons who have enrolled as members of the WVNRB brain tissue donor program. At the present time, the WVNRB is accepting tissue donations only from residents of the Wabash Valley. Residents outside of the Wabash Valley may inquire regarding possible donation arrangements.

To enroll, a donor must enroll and sign 3 forms:

In case of debilitating illness on the part of the donor, anyone with power of attorney for the donor may sign the authorization forms. The signature of a witness is also required on the authorization form. The original signed forms must be mailed back to the WVNRB as soon as possible and a copy will be mailed back for the donor's records.

Upon registration, a copy of the authorization forms must be placed in the medical file of the donor.

Presently, the WVNRB has over 200 registered donors in the Wabash Valley area.

The WVNRB does not charge a fee for participation in this program.

Brain tissue harvesting and storage protocol

Upon the death of the patient, the WVNRB must be contacted as soon as possible for tissue harvesting.

For storage, the removed brain is divided in half down the midline.

Half of the brain is cut into 2 centimeter-thick coronal slabs and frozen in liquid nitrogen. These frozen slabs are stored at -80ºC and are available for biochemical analyses.

The other half of the brain is fixed in cold 4% paraformaldehyde and stored in the same solution for histological or immunohistochemical use.

Tissue blocks from the fixed half of the brain are used for:

S. S. Mirra, M.N. Hart and R. D. Terry (1993) Making the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. A primer for practicing pathologists. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 117: 132-144.

H. Braak and E. Braak (1991) Neuropathological stageing of Alzheimer-related changes. Acta Neuropathol. 82: 239-259.

Presently, the WVNRB has 108 brains processed and stored.

Financial donations and past contributors

The WVNRB depends on financial contributions for its continuing operation. The personnel involved in the brain harvesting and processing donate their services to help this important research program.

If you want to contribute financially to the WVNRB, donations in the memory of a loved one may be sent to:

Taihung Duong, Ph.D.

re:  Wabash Valley Neurological Research Bank

Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute

(on the campus of Indiana State University)

Holmstedt Hall room 135

Terre Haute, Indiana 47809

 

Partial list of past financial contributors:

Beaman, Charles E., Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Blest, Mary Alice, Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Helen M. Blest.

Brannan, Don, Brazil, IN, in memory of Ross Elliott.

Britton, Donna S., Rockville, IN, in memory of Marguerite Martin.

Burns, Ruel F., Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Clay County Alzheimer's Disease Support Group, Brazil, IN.

Cohn, Charles M., Simi Valley, CA, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

CTC Foreclosure Services, Simi Valley, CA, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Digital Audio Disc Corporation, Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Mary Misterka.

Doermer, John, Milwaukee, WI, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Fibre Box Association, Rolling Meadows, IL, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

First American Tile Company, Santa Ana, CA.

Friends and Faculty of ISU, Terre Haute, IN. in memory of Margaret Scott.

Granzow, Paul H., Dayton, OH, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Gray, Marianna and Don, Tipton, IN, in memory of Ruth Gene Rybak.

Greater Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Terre Haute, IN.

Handley,Chandell, Simi Valley, CA.

Hert, Mildred, Richmond, IN.

Hoffman, Jack F., Brazil, IN.

Howenstine, Robert L., Bellmore, IN, in memory of Marguerite Martin.

Hubbard, Ward M., Terre Haute, IN.

Hudson, Catherine B., Terre Haute, IN.

Johnson, Derek, J., Louisville, KY, in memory of John T. Meek.

Marilyn McDonough, Indianapolis, IN, in memory of Marguerite Martin.

Mathis, Rochelle F., Brazil, IN, in memory of Ross Elliott.

McMahon, Bernard J., Terre Haute, IN.

Milburn,Greta B., Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Betty J. Street.

Parkins, Marvin, Brazil, IN, in memory of Gladys Woodburn.

Rachwitz, Josephine M., Munger, MI, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Saxelby, William, Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Schomer,Gary W., Terre Haute, IN.

Schrader, Debra L., Carbon, IN, in memory of Marguerite Martin.

Schrader, Gregg Kent, Carbon, IN, in memory of Marguerite Martin.

Scott, Margaret R., Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Gladys Woodburn.

Thacker, Leon H., West Lafayette, IN, in memory of Helen M. Blest.

Turner, Edward T., Terre Haute, IN.

Turner, Granzow & Hollenkamp, Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

United Paperworkers International, Fort Wayne, IN in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Vigo County Alzheimer's Disease Support Group, Terre Haute, IN.

Vining, Richard C., Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Henry Erisman.

Vining, Richard C., Terre Haute, IN, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Weisheit, Douglas L., Rockville, IN, in memory of Marguerite Martin.

Weston Paper and Manufacturing Company, Terre Haute, IN.

Williamson, Michael G., Marshall, IL, in memory of Margaret E. Beaman.

Wilson, Isabell L., Terre Haute, IN.

York, Robert S., West Terre Haute, IN.

 

updated 5/11/2005

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