Within the past few decades, research and technological advances in medicine have brought new hope to millions of people throughout the world, allowing them to lead longer, fuller, and richer lives. And yet so much remains to be done.        

       One factor contributing to the ongoing progress is the information garnered from the study of human tissue taken at the time of autopsy. Brain banks were created so that no valuable tissue is lost to research. They are designed as centers that accrue brain tissue not only from people with a variety of neurological, psychiatric and developmental disorders, but from healthy individuals of all ages (for the purpose of comparison) as well. A brain bank is where the tissue is preserved and distributed to qualified researchers. In this regard, the development of brain banks has greatly increased the availability of human specimens and contributed to the success of modern neuroscience, but access to this valuable tissue is still very limited. Some may argue that research can be done on animals, but in neuroscience it is not always the case. Difficulties in developing animal models of numerous disorders of the nervous system make access to human brain tissue especially critical.

       Banking of postmortem or biopsied brain tissue creates a link between the clinicians and researchers. Brain banks are invaluable resource centers for scientists allowing them access to well-documented, quality specimens for research. In the context of the global community, governmental support acknowledges the significance of brain banks for furthering progress in medical sciences. Many banks are also sponsored by consumer agencies advocating research of specific disorders. At the time of grief, the decision to donate tissue help many family members find a sense of purpose by giving hope to others affected by the same neurological disorder.   

       Some tissue banks develop donation programs that inform potential donors and their families of the need and importance of donating tissue for research, while allowing them to make an informed and dignified decision based on their own beliefs and convictions. No prospective donor is ever pressured in any way to donate. Only after all questions have been answered and proper consents signed do the brain bank associates arrange for tissue retrieval. Brain banks collect brain tissue from people with well-documented clinical histories.