Donation
Contribute Through Brain Donation
Play a vital role in advancing research by learning how brain tissue donation supports scientific breakthroughs.
Supported by 
Brain Bank Network India Initiative
AIIMS Bhubaneswar
Brain Bank
“In Service of Science, Preserving the Human Brain”
Establishment of satellite Brain Banks in India for Neuroscience Research — funded by ICMR. Committed to enabling access to high-quality human brain tissue that catalyzes discoveries shaping the future of medicine.
Our Mission: “Advancing Neuroscience Through the Preservation of Human Brain Tissue.” We bridge donors and discovery, supporting global research to decode neurological disorders and improve human health.
2021
Established
ICMR
Funded
2+
Collaborators
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.
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 neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, dementia, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.
“Be Part of the Journey: Help us unravel the brain’s mysteries and advance medicine for generations to come.”
Click an objective below to learn more ↓
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 Your Brain
Be a part of our mission to revolutionize brain research. Every donation brings scientists one step closer to understanding neurological disorders.
Get Involved TodayLocation & Contact
Room no. 215, Brain Bio Bank,
Dept. of Pathology & Lab Medicine,
2nd floor, Academic Block,
AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751019.
Working hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
How the Donation Process Works
1
Before Death — Register Your Wish
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.
2
At Time of Death — Call Brain Bank
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
3
Consent & Post-Mortem
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 Consent Hierarchy
- 1. Legal Spouse
- 2. Adult Child
- 3. Either Living Parent
- 4. Adult Sibling
- 5. Adult Grandchild
- 6. Grandparent
- 7. An adult who exhibited special care and concern for the potential donor
- 8. A person who was acting as a guardian of the person of the potential donor at the time of death
- 9. Any other person having the authority to dispose of the body
Important Note
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.
✓
After Donation — Documents & Certificates
Collect 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.
Brain Bank sends you by post
- Thanks giving letter
- Certificate of Donation
- Final post-mortem report subsequently
Consent Forms
Donor Declaration (Form 1)
To: Principal Coordinator/Associate Coordinator, Dept. of Pathology & Lab Medicine, 2nd floor, Academic Block, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751019.
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 (Form 2)
To: Human Brain Tissue Repository, Dept. of Pathology & Lab Medicine, 2nd floor, Academic Block, AIIMS 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 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.
For Researchers
Request for Tissue
Researchers can request brain tissue samples from the AIIMS Bhubaneswar Brain Bank to advance their studies in neuroscience.
Application Process
Fill out our Request Form (Form A) with detailed information about your research project.
Available Resources
Tissue samples categorised by diagnosis, preservation type, and demographic information.
Approval Timeline
Expect processing times and instructions for receiving tissues after form submission and ethics approval.
Form A — Request for Brain Tissue / Tissue Fluid
REQUEST FOR POSTMORTEM BRAIN TISSUE / TISSUE FLUID from HUMAN BRAIN TISSUE REPOSITORY (HUMAN BRAIN BANK), Pathology and Lab Medicine, AIIMS Bhubaneswar
- Name of the Principal Investigator
- Title of the Project
- Funding agency
- Summary of the project justifying the use of human brain tissue / tissue fluid
- Type of sample required, specifying the conditions to be satisfied during procurement, processing, storage
- Sample required: Fresh / Formalin fixed / Slides / Fluids (Mark any) — Quantity & Units
- Clinical details required along with the sample (clinical & laboratory findings, treatment received, final diagnosis)
- Approval by local Institutional Human Tissue Use / Ethics Committee (YES / NO)
Form B — Material Transfer Agreement
Provider: Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, AIIMS Bhubaneswar
The Provider agrees to transfer Research Material to the Recipient Scientist. Material is classified as one of: Identifiable / Coded / Anonymised.
Recipient Agreement includes:
- Human Subject Protection — no disclosure of donor identity
- Compliance with all applicable State and Ethics Committee regulations
- Material provided at no cost (optional transmittal fee for preparation only)
- Both parties to sign and return one copy to the Provider
- Material is proprietary to the Provider and for research use only — not for commercial purposes
This material may NOT be used in human subjects. It is supplied with no warranties, express or implied, or for commercial purposes.
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 & Education
Our research spans tissue quality assessment, molecular biology, and training the next generation of neuropathologists.
Ongoing Research Projects
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
Education & Training
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.
Dissection images & procedure overview coming soon
Brain Museum
Human Brain Museum
“Sow the seeds of Neuroscience — Make everyone N-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 Hours
- Open Mon – Fri & alternate Saturdays
- Closed: 2nd Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays
- Wednesday afternoons reserved for general public
How to Book
Email us to request an appointment. Confirmation with visit details will follow.
Booking Steps
To book a visit to the Neuropathology Brain Museum, Dept. of Pathology and Lab Medicine, 2nd floor, Academic Block, AIIMS Bhubaneswar:
- 1 Book an online appointment or write an email at (EMAIL ID), requesting to permit your school for the proposed museum visit.
- 2 Wait for the confirmation email from Brain Museum Staff for the with visit/appointment details and instructions.
- 3 Instruction and procedure prior to visit to the museum.
Important Rules & 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.
Information Required in Appointment Email
Write an email requesting to permit your school for the proposed museum visit. Kindly include the following details:
- 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
Contact Us