Donation
Contribute Through Brain Donation
Play a vital role in advancing research by learning how brain tissue donation supports scientific breakthroughs.
Brain Bank Network India Initiative
AIIMS Bhubaneswar Brain Bank
“In Service of Science, Preserving the Human Brain”
Welcome to the “Brain Bank Network India Initiative”: Establishment of satellite Brain banks in India for Neuroscience Research Funded by ICMR.
Our Brain Bank is committed to unlocking the fundamental principles of brain function and dysfunction by enabling access to high-quality human tissue catalyzing discoveries that shape the future of medicine and society.
Our Mission: “Advancing Neuroscience Through the Preservation of Human Brain Tissue” We aim to bridge donors and discovery, creating a vital repository that supports global research efforts to decode neurological disorders and improve human health.
Museum
Visit the Human Brain Museum
Step into the region’s first brain museum, showcasing fascinating exhibits and immersive learning experiences. (Open for educational visits)
Research
Explore & Learn
Use our interactive resources to better understand the remarkable complexity of the human brain.
About Us
ABOUT US
At the AIIMS Bhubaneswar Brain Bank, we are committed to driving progress in neuroscience by enabling access to carefully preserved, high-quality brain tissue that supports scientific breakthroughs. AIIMS HBTR was established in year 2021 in the Department of Pathology and Lab medicine. The brain remains one of the most complex and least understood organs, and through brain donation, you can help change that. By preserving donated brain tissue with the highest care and respect, we support research that seeks to understand conditions like Parkinson’s, dementia, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological disorders that affect millions of lives.
Every donation tells a story. Every sample brings scientists one step closer to answers to challenging questions and enables better diagnosis, improved treatments, and, ultimately prevention of such neurological conditions. Behind this effort is a dedicated team of doctors, researchers, and specialists working together to ensure that each contribution becomes a powerful resource for science.
“Be Part of the Journey: Help us unravel the brain’s mysteries and advance medicine for generations to come.”
Objective 1. To establish satellite Brain Banks in India for promoting research in neuroscience.
- Develop, standardize, and harmonize protocols for collection, freezing, and neuropathological diagnosis among satellite Bio Banks/Brain Banks
- Develop gold standards for tissue handling, safety, quality control and ethics and evaluate cost effective methods of tissue preservation applicable to our country
- Capacity building & manpower development through workshops and short-term training programs in Bio banking practices
- Popularize tissue/ organ donation among professionals and community to promote research
Objective 2. Networking of satellite Brain Banks with NIMHANS as nodal Centre
- Develop common database of cases as per protocols developed for minimal clinical information to accompany the cases. Data will be centrally held in NIMHANS Brain Bank server for satellite banks to access.
- Develop website for researchers to access database and send requests for tissues online
- Establish guidelines and protocols for transparency in exchange of tissues and fluids with other Bio Banks to promote research in line with ICMR guidelines for Biomedical Research.
- This network will be registered with other networks such as ISBER
- Set up satellite Brain Museums as national resource for medical and public education.
Future Perspectives
Future Perspectives of AIIMS Bhubaneswar HBTR & Neuropathology Museum
Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Explore and understand the mechanistic links behind dementia in aging process.
- Creation of a spatial transcriptomic atlas of human brain aging in Indian Population
- Characterize and standardize serological diagnostic test for Central nervous system infective diseases
Molecular Biology
- Transcriptomic analysis of the human Rabies cases.
- Transcriptomic profiling of hemorrhagic stroke and unravel the key mechanisms post stroke.
- Development of cDNA library in normal and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Development of a DNA bank as a research facility for genetically transmitted neurological diseases in collaboration with other laboratories.
Infections
- The neuropathological evaluation of tubercular meningitis and its pathogenesis in the Indian context.
- Immuno profiling in Neuroinfections, epilepsy and their influence on progression of the disease
- Proteomics/genomics of CNS infections to identify candidate biomarkers
- Establishment of registries and developing database of Neuroinfections for policy planning.
Stem cell biology
- Mapping of resting stem cell pool in the human brain at different ages.
- Response of resting stem cells following head injury and their reparative potential.
- Identifying tumor stem cells in human brain tumors.
Teaching modules
- Developing museum and teaching sets to provide material to medical colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate training
MRI imaging
- MRI imaging of human brain specimens collected at autopsy for Neuroanatomical and pathological correlation.
Free of freezing artefacts
- Development of technology to retrieve brain tissue from frozen state for histological processing without freezing artefacts. Though the technology for such retrieval of cell lines is available, for small bits, from large slices of brain, it needs to be developed. This will facilitate the simultaneous pathomorphological and molecular biological studies in future from the stored material and correlate with MRI and molecular imaging in human brain.
Networking
- Make efforts to enroll and develop Biobanks in the country by networking with likeminded medical colleagues and popularize autopsy service as a vital teaching activity for the medical students.
Our Collaborations
Our Collaborations
We are proud to collaborate with two leading institutions in neuroscience research:
NIMHANS
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
A globally recognized leader in brain research, contributing cutting-edge expertise and resources to support our mission.
NIMHANS Brain bank sitePGIMER
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh
Partnering with us to advance neurological research, PGIMER Chandigarh provides critical clinical insights and research collaboration.
PGIMER Brain bank SiteThese collaborations help enhance the quality of our research, ensuring that our work is impactful and far-reaching in the field of neuroscience.
Donate
Donate Brain
Gain insight into why donation matters and how you can participate.
Get Involved Today! Be a part of our mission to revolutionize brain research. Donate Now.
Location
Room no. 215, Brain Bio Bank, Department of Pathology and Lab medicine, 2nd floor, Academic Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751019.
+91 96540 45753Contact us:- +91-9654045753
Donate: (Content Taken from NIMHANS Website)
Have a prior family discussion and consent about brain donation. Do not forget to inform your health care providers and care takers about your decision.
At the time of impending death and/or at death, family members, or caretakers, should call Brain Bank coordinator [Telephone No's: Dr. Suvendu Purkait P.I Brain Bank: 9654045753 (Working hours: 9:00AM to 5:00PM) and be prepared to provide the following information and documents:
- Donor's complete name and Photo ID proof of the deceased.
- Current location of donor's body (i.e. hospital/nursing home/home)
- Date and time of death (if known) & death circumstances.
- Death certificate (original).
- Name & relationship, complete mailing address and phone number of legal next-of-kin
- Donor's medical records (if applicable)
- Brain donation card if registered
HBTR staff guides the legal next-of-kin/legal representative through the consent process, reviewing the documents. The signed consent form by the legal next-of-kin/legal representative, must be received by HBTR staff in order to proceed with the brain donation. Post-mortem process will take1-1½hrs after reaching AIIMS Bhubaneswar mortuary. The hierarchy for those legally authorized to make a donation of the potential donor's brain after his/her death is as follows:
- Legal Spouse
- Adult Child
- Either Living Parent
- Adult Sibling
- Adult Grandchild
- Grandparent
- An adult who exhibited special care and concern for the potential donor
- A person who was acting as a guardian of the person of the potential donor at the time of death
- Any other person having the authority to dispose of the body
Note: Human brain tissue quality degrades very quickly following death. In order for HBTR to provide the highest quality brain tissue to the research community, donor's body must reach the centre as early as possible. Utmost care will be taken to make sure there is no disfigurement. Only the donor's brain will be sent to HBTR, so the donor's body will be handed back to the family members.
It is essential that the following documents to be collected following post-mortem:
- Acknowledgement for Brain donation
- Death Certificate (Original)
- Copy of informed consent
- If you are an eye donor put wet cloth on both eye and contact eye bank. Eyes can be donated at home within 4hrs of death.
Few days after the brain donation, you will receive by post the following documents from Brain Bank:
- Thanks giving letter
- Certificate of Donation
- Final post-mortem report subsequently
How to Donate:
- Learn about the donation process and eligibility.
- Fill out our donation form to express interest.
- Contact our team for any assistance or questions.
Why Donate? By donating, you help pave the way for scientific discoveries that can improve treatments and save lives.
Get Started Now!
Human Brain Tissue Repository (HBTR) DONOR DECLARATION (FORM – 1)
To DATE:
Principal Coordinator/Associate Coordinator
Department of Pathology and Lab medicine, 2nd floor, Academic Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751019.
Phone -
1. I (Mr/Mrs/Miss)…………………………………………………Aged ………Years wish to donate my Brain/Spinal cord/Peripheral nerve/Eye voluntarily after my death to the Human Brain Bank, AIIMS Bhubaneswar for research /educational purposes. I authorize Human Brain Bank, AIIMS Bhubaneswar to collect and store my brain / other tissues indicated above to utilize them for the above-mentioned purposes. I or my family members do not seek any monetary benefit or otherwise in this donation. The material can be used for research purposes and communication of results in research journals if it will be of benefit to society ensuring that strict confidentiality of the donor’s identity be maintained.
2. After the organ retrieval, (Brain/Spinal cord/Peripheral nerve/Eye/) my relatives may request to keep the body in the mortuary freezer for 2 to 3 days until their close relatives come from outstation/abroad to collect the body for cremation. This may kindly be honored.
3. I donate the whole body, which can be used for educational purposes.
Donor Name(Capital)
Witness Name (Relationship to Donor)
Address
Address
Signature
Signature
*(The Family physician/ Legal heir/ Person not related to the family can also sign as a Witness)
NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE FROM SPOUSE / SON / DAUGHTER / RELATIVE / GUARDIAN OF THE DONOR (FORM - 2)
TO DATE:
Human Brain Tissue Repository (Human Brain Bank),
Department of Pathology and Lab medicine, 2nd floor, Academic Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751019.
Name of the Donor
Date of Birth/Age
Age/Sex
Marital Status
Permanent Residental Address
Residential Phone No/Mobile Number
We, the undersigned solemnly affirm and declare that we have no objection for the brain/ other tissues (specify) donation by the donor to the Human Brain Tissue Repository.
I/We declare to abide by the donor’s wish and agree to inform the Department of Pathology and Lab medicine, Academic Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar,
Name & Relationship to Donor
*Witness Name
Address with phone number(s)
Address with phone number(s)
Signature
Signature
Date/Place
Date/Place
*The Family physician/ Person not related to the family can sign as Witness.
Note: The donor/family members have the right to withdraw consent at any time without assigning any reason.
Declaration by Human Brain Tissue Repository (AIIMS Bhubaneswar Human Brain Bank)
- The material collected will solely be used for research/education/scientific publication and presentation. The material can be shared with other researchers at the discretion of the Brain Bank coordinators for scientific studies ensuring confidentiality of donor is strictly maintained. The human biological material will be used for research purposes adhering to the guidelines stipulated by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and with the approval of Institutional Scientific Ethics Committee.
- We assure that strict confidentiality of the donor will be maintained.
- The material can be subjected to biochemical/molecular biological/ molecular genetic studies in future for the promotion of knowledge.
- The knowledge gained by the study of the brain/other material may be shared in general terms with the close relatives of the donor following specific written request at the discretion of the Coordinator of Human Brain Bank, AIIMS Bhubaneswar. It is advisable to have the Family Physician/Treating Physician at the time of discussion for further future advice if needed and counseling to the family regarding the implications of the scientific knowledge acquired after studying the brain.
- The body of the deceased can be stored in the freezer at the request of the relatives in the mortuary depending upon the availability of freezer space.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Staff
Dr. Suvendu Purkait
Additional Professor, Project Investigator
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Bhoi
Professor and Head, Co-PI
Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohanty
Professor and Head, Co-PI
Dr. Rabi Narayan Sahu
Professor and Head, Co-PI
Potnuru Gouri Sankar Das
Project Research Scientist
Soumyasree Dutta
Technical Support
Prajnya Paramita Maharana
Data Entry Operator
Samita Ghadei
Lab Attendant
Sanjay Kumar Nayak
Lab Attendant
Research and Education
Research and education
We can add overview option in which we can add dissection images and procedure. (LIKE in NIMHANS)
Effect of Post-mortem interval (PMI) on the histopathological and Immunohistochemical assessment Brain tissue with different PMI (1 to >30 hrs.) was assessed for an objective decay score on histopathology and different immunohistochemistry related to the basic structure and enzymes related to ROS metabolism. In the process of manuscript preparation
Effect of Post-mortem interval (PMI) on the DNA and RNA integrity of the tissue Brain tissue with different PMI was assessed for RNA integrity and DNA integrity by different methods.
Different region of the mRNA of Cytochrome C1 (CYC1) was assessed with qRT-PCR In the process of manuscript preparation
Assessment of the pathobiology of Cerebral Small Vessel disease (CSVD). The expression of different molecular markers related to ferroptosis form of cell death was assessed in CSVD cases.
Multimodal Evaluation of RNA Integrity and Tissue Quality in Human Postmortem Brain Across Varying Postmortem Intervals in a Tropical Indian Brain Biobank
To train the residents perusing MD pathology on brain autopsy, anatomical dissection, histopathological assessment and storage of brain tissue.
Development of the skill and competence of the MD Pathology residents for performing brain autopsy and dissection independently.
Preliminary diagnosis of the gross and microscopic pathology.
BRAIN Museum
Mission
Sow the seeds of Neuroscience, Make everyone N-Literate (Neuroscience Literate)
The Human Brain Museum at AIIMS Bhubaneswar offers a unique opportunity to explore the complexities of the human brain. Visitors can learn about brain anatomy, neurological disorders, and the importance of brain tissue donation for scientific research.
Visit Us: Find details on visiting hours, booking group tours, and museum guidelines.
GeNERal information
Thank you for showing your interest in visiting Department of Pathology and Lab medicine, 2nd floor, Academic Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar,
With regards to visit to Human Brain Museum, here is the procedure and instructions to be followed to book an appointment for your proposed pathology Brain Museum visit.
- Book an online appointment or write an email at (EMAIL ID), requesting to permit your school for the proposed museum visit.
- Wait for the confirmation email from Brain Museum Staff for the with visit/appointment details and instructions.
- Instruction and procedure prior to visit to the museum.
Points to Note
- Please note students of grade-8 and above are the given permission for museum visit. The lower grades i.e., from class 1-7 are not given appointments for Museum Visit.
- Please note if the number of students per batch are more than 35, multiple visits shall be proposed. This will ensure proper management and smooth conductance of the guided tour. We don’t accept the visit when the total number of students and teacher together crosses 40 as we have space constrain. If the school has more students, they should divide them into batches not crossing 40. If more than 40 students reach the museum the trip may be cancel, refusing the entry for logistics reasons.
- In case if two school simultaneously book the same slots the priority will be given on the basis of: "First cum First service"
- Please provide the contact details of the accompanying faculty/teacher.
- School & Colleges (group bookings) are not permitted on all Saturdays (whole day) and on all Wednesday afternoons as these days, museum is exclusively reserved for the general public entry.
- We may not be able to fix the visit to the Brain Museum according to your convenience. The date will be fixed by Co-coordinator, Brain Museum & the school/college are expected to follow it carefully.
- This proposed schedule is valid only to visit Brain Museum. please contact respective Officer In Charge.
- Museum remains close on all 2nd Saturdays, Sundays & Public holidays.
Appointment Booking Form (Check NIMHANS site for this)
Write an email at (email id), requesting to permit your school for the proposed museum visit – Kindly check the calendar for the earliest available slot for booking Neuropathology Museum Visit to your Institute
- Name of the Institute/Organization
- Course/Board of study (if applicable)
- Year/Class of study (if applicable)
- Number of students/visitors
- Has your school have earlier visited the museum. If yes, please specify the number of visit/per year and also the years of visit.
- Accompanying teachers name and contact details to be mentioned in the email while booking for appointment.
- Names of the students on the letter head of the school/college, duly signed by the respective head of the institute as a word attachment should be sent.
- Foreign students sent by the respective institute should send the names of the students, Date of arrival to India, Date of Departure, and Contact Details of the students on the letter head of the school/college, duly signed by the respective head of the institute as a word attachment should be sent.
Gallery
GALLERY
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