• Why?

• Who?

• What tissue?

• Other donor schemes

• Tissue retrieval

• Afterwards

• Research

• Storage

• Disposal

• Funding

• Medical history

• Confidentiality

• Changing your mind

• What now?

• The forms

When and How will the Tissue be Retrieved?

1. Death of registered donor
2. Tissue bank informed by someone telephoning 07659 10 45 37 (24-hours)
3. A member of the Tissue Bank phones back immediately for further details*
4. Death certified by GP or hospital doctor*
5. Body transported to hospital nearest to the place of death*
6. Pathologist and post mortem technician at the hospital retrieves the tissue*
7. Member of on-call team travels to hospital to collect tissue*
8. Body returned to undertakers for the funeral*
9. Tissue brought back to Charing Cross Hospital for processing and storage*

Since it is vital that we are contacted as soon as possible after your death, we would ask you to ensure that your next-of-kin or legal representive, and the health professionals looking after you are aware of your bequest. Everyone concerned should know that in the event of your death someone needs to immediately telephone the Tissue Bank. We are on standby 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The 24-hour Emergency Donor Line number is 07659 10 45 37

What Happens to my Body after the Tissue has been Removed?

The procedure used for removing the tissue will leave your body entirely suitable for viewing at an open casket funeral. Since the tissues are removed as soon as possible after death, your donation to the Tissue Bank will not delay arrangements for the funeral. We will organise for the body to be transported from the hospital where the tissues were removed to the firm of undertakers that are going to be responsible for the funeral.

• Why?

• Who?

• What tissue?

• Other donor schemes

• Tissue retrieval

• Afterwards

• Research

• Storage

• Disposal

• Funding

• Medical history

• Confidentiality

• Changing your mind

• What now?

• The forms

How will my Tissues be made Available for Research?

The brain and spinal cord that we collect will be brought to Charing Cross Hospital to use in research in accordance with guidelines established by the Medical Research Council and the Royal College of Pathologists. The tissue will be processed into approximately 250 individual samples. This is done to ensure that each donation provides material to as many research projects as possible. The tissue will be preserved and stored safely and securely by the Tissue Bank until their respectful and ethical use in research including genetic analysis. All these procedures are performed with the utmost respect for the individual who donated the tissues.

We regularly promote our work in the scientific community so that the Tissue Bank will come to be identified as a valuable resource for scientists. We invite scientists to apply for tissue that they can use for research into Parkinson’s disease. Only after their applications have been received and reviewed, can we match their requirements with the tissue we have available. Therefore, we cannot at this stage, predict what type of research your tissue might be used for, where or when the research will be carried out, or by whom, but we can assure you that we will try and supply as many research projects as possible to further the understanding of Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders.

The Tissue Bank was set-up to act as a resource for research into Parkinson's disease, so we will consider applications from all scientists conducting research on Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's-like disorders whether they are working in or outside the UK or, in the public or private sector. Everyone receiving tissue from the Tissue Bank agrees to the same terms and conditions.

How Long will my Tissue be Stored?

Your tissue will be immersed in formaldehyde (a liquid fixative that preserves tissue) or stored frozen at –85^oC. These preservation techniques ensure that tissue will remain usable in research for many years to come. Some research studies can be carried out on tissue that has been stored in this way for 10 years or more.

How will my Tissue be Disposed Of?