Hi, I'm Iain and I am the Mortuary Manager at the James Paget Hospital. APTs (Anatomical Pathology Technologists) like me are the people that generally remove the donor material from deceased donors within our mortuaries.

It's a slick operation, to ensure that the donor is brought to our mortuary in a timely manner and to ensure that the donor tissue is removed 'fresh' i.e. as soon after death as possible. Liaisons between the tissue bank and funeral directors are vital.

Before tissue removal can take place, we must ensure that the correct paperwork is in place:

• The consent of the donor (while alive)
• Death certificate

The nature of the consent and research project depends what tissue is taken and how it is to be stored. Usually tissue is:

• Brain
• Spinal Cord
• Sample of CSF

The brain tissue is either;

1. collected immediately by a member of the Tissue Bank team and taken back to Charing Cross Hospital for processing; or
2. suspended in formalin fixative to preserve the shape of the brain and stored within a fridge at 4°C for a period of a few weeks.

The formalin is changed on a regular basis to ensure full tissue fixing. A courier is sent to collect the tissue a few weeks later.

I'm often asked "why I do this?" I usually reply by saying that my family, or I, might get Parkinson's, so any advances in treatment that come from using human donated material could be of direct benefit to me. Also, as a sign of respect, if a donor has gone to the trouble and time to donate their tissue for the good of others, I feel it's my duty to help facilitate that wish, and make it a reality. I and my team are pleased to be part of the 'team'.