Ireland’s first Brain Bank launched to aid research

Pictured at the launch were Dr Michael Farrell, left, and sports commentator Jimmy Magee, whose son was diagnosed with Motor neurone Disease aged 49 and made the decision to donate his brain to research 

Dr Michael Farrell, Consultant Neuropathologist in Beaumont and one of the leads in the project says that the Dublin Brain Bank meets the needs of patients and scientists.

“Over the last seven or eight years we have been requested on many occasions by relatives of patients – or indeed patients themselves – to examine their brains after they have died in order to get a diagnosis. On the other hand there are fantastic neuroscientists in Ireland looking for access to brain tissue…”   

The Brain Bank has set up a sophisticated system for the retrieval, storage, access to and use of brain matter and indeed consent of family members and ethical use of brain matter are high on the Brain Banks agenda. Dr Farrell, who is also Chairman of the MS Ireland Medical and Scientific research Committee, encourages patients to discuss their wishes to donate with their families.  

Up until now, Ireland was the only European country without a Brain Bank.

People with or without disorders of the brain are being asked to consider donating their brain once they pass away. Information, brochures and consent forms are available from http://www.rcsi.ie/index.jsp?p=331&n=797&a=959