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Information for Donors | ||
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Tissue Donation |
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Why is Tissue Needed for Research into Parkinson’s Disease?The symptoms experienced by people living with Parkinson's disease are a result of damage taking place within the brain. Although there are a number of different ways to conduct research into Parkinson's disease, being able to study the very tissue that is damaged is vital to our developing better treatments and one day halting or preventing the advance of the disease. The UK Parkinson's Disease Society Tissue Bank retrieves and stores tissue bequeathed by registered donors and makes samples of the material available to scientists carrying out research on Parkinson's disease. The donation of tissue is therefore a precious gift that will further our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and can make an essential contribution to finding better treatments for the disease. Who can Register as a Donor?People living with Parkinson’s disease, with Parkinson's-like disorders (e.g. Multiple System Atrophy, MSA; Progressive supranuclear Palsy, PSP) and those who are healthy, can all register on our donor scheme and bequeath tissue for research on Parkinson's disease. Tissue from people that did not have Parkinson's disease is of crucial importance since it allows scientists to compare the tissue damaged by Parkinson’s disease with the normal situation. What Tissue is Needed?Since Parkinson's disease is a progressive disease of the nervous system, the brain and spinal cord are used in research. The cerebrospinal fluid bathes the brain and spinal cord, so the study of this fluid may also provide useful information. We routinely remove the following tissue:
Researchers have so far requested only this material, but it may be that sometime in the future scientists will need samples of tissue from other sites of the body in order to answer specific questions about Parkinson’s disease. If this happens, we will always ask your next-of-kin’s permission before removing any material in addition to that listed above. Can I Donate Other Parts of my Body to Other Donor Schemes as well as my Brain and Spinal Cord to the Parkinson’s Disease Society Tissue Bank?Some people may wish to donate other parts of their body e.g. corneas or their whole body for medical research as well as their brain and spinal cord to the Parkinson's Disease Society Tissue Bank. In most circumstances the Parkinson's Disease Society Tissue Bank can work with other donor schemes to ensure that your additional wishes to donate tissue are also carried out. However, it is essential that you inform us of any additional donor schemes you belong to, tissue you wish to be taken and the emergency contact number of the other donor services so that we can liase with them at the time of your death. |
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