FAQ

Because the brain tissue samples have been obtained from autopsy specimens (not technically considered human subjects), IRB approval is generally not required for work with these samples.  However, you should check with your IRB to make sure.

A tissue committee reviews each request, giving consideration to the scientific aspects of the proposal, the type(s) of samples being requested, the availability of those samples in the bank, etc.  In the case of scarce resources, an investigator may be asked to gather pilot data using a small number of samples or using tissue samples from a brain region for which tissue is more readily available.

We have provided a series of links to other brain banks on the Links section of this web site.

The dates we provide as anticipated dates of completion are based on a normal workload in a normal week.  However, since a major function of the Neuropathology/Histochemistry Core is to provide human tissue through our Brain and Tissue Bank, we are continually adding to the bank through our ongoing autopsy program.  By nature, autopsies are unpredictable, and every time there is an autopsy, the staff of the Neuropathology/Histochemistry Core has to interrupt whatever they are working on in order to do the autopsy.  Most weeks, we have no more than one or two autopsies.  Occasionally, though, we will have several autopsies in a single week.  This wreaks havoc with the normal flow of work, delaying completion of all projects planned for that week, and may impact subsequent weeks as well.

Paraffin sections are very thin, and the counterstain allows one to see the tissue morphology and identify the location of any immunolabel that might be present.  Without the counterstain, this would be difficult in most cases.  The most common counterstain is a blue hematoxylin, although other counterstains (e.g., nuclear fast red) are sometimes used, depending upon the chromagen chosen for visualization of the immunolabel.

The dates we provide as anticipated dates of completion are based on a normal workload in a normal week.  However, since a major function of the Neuropathology/Histochemistry Core is to provide human tissue through our Brain and Tissue Bank, we are continually adding to the bank through our ongoing autopsy program.  By nature, autopsies are unpredictable, and every time there is an autopsy, the staff of the Neuropathology/Histochemistry Core has to interrupt whatever they are working on in order to do the autopsy.  Most weeks, we have no more than one or two autopsies.  Occasionally, though, we will have several autopsies in a single week.  This wreaks havoc with the normal flow of work, delaying completion of all projects planned for that week, and may impact subsequent weeks as well.