To obtain and distribute High Quality human brain tissue, for research into PD and related disorders both in the UK and worldwide.

• Recruitment into donor scheme
• Collection of patient data, family histories, epidemiological details
• Collection, processing and storage of human tissue
• Distribution of tissue to scientists
• Raise public awareness, links with international PD research and interest groups

HUMAN Brain Tissue is VITALLY IMPORTANT for ongoing progress into the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's Disease.

• Why human?
  • Animals don't get PD, hence donated tissue is essential for examining the mechanisms of cell death, pathological changes etc.
  • Complement some animal work and tissue culture studies, and provide confirmation of these studies
• Past research:
  • Drug development - L-DOPA
  • Some understanding of mechanisms of cell death

Anyone!

• Parkinson's Disease
• 'Parkinson's plus' movement disorders:
  • Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
  • Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
• Controls – very important

Rapid collection of tissue is important (Aim - 24 hours)

1. Death of registered donor
2. Next of kin calls PDS Tissue Bank 24 hour emergency telephone number
3. PDS Tissue bank immediately calls for further details
4. Deceased transported to nearby hospital for tissue removal
5. Body returned to funeral directors
6. Tissue collected and stored at Charing Cross Hospital

Donors

• Mean Age at Onset: 65 (32-85)
• Mean Age at Death: 77 (42-93)
• Mean Duration of Illness: 12 (2-43)
• Female: Male (30%: 70%)

• Requests for tissue from recognised Institutions both in the UK and around the world.
• The project is reviewed by an independent scientific panel, to check whether the project is scientifically sound and will benefit medical research.
• Written report on the research carried out by the research team.
• Acknowledgement of the Tissue Bank and PDS in any scientific publication where donated tissue has been used.

Mechanisms of Neuronal death

• Accumulation of Fe in the PD Substantia nigra – Stimulation of free radicals.

• Increased free radical damage to lipids and other cellular components.

• Deficiency of the bodies defence systems against free radicals – antioxidants.

• Defect in mitochondrial function

• Process called Oxidative stress!

• Open study using high doses of vitamin E & C in newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease patients. Positive effect on the progression of the disease i.e. delayed the requirement to start L-DOPA therapy (Fahn, 1992).

• Double blind DATATOP study looking at vitamin E. Showed no effect on the progression of the disease (Shoulson et al, 1992).

• Is Vitamin E the best anti-oxidant to use?

• Epidemiology studies reveal that women are less likely to develop PD!

• Pre-menopausal women with PD experience clinical fluctuation to drugs during the estrous cycle.

• Removal of hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women worsens PD!

• 33,000 genes to look at!

• Concentrate on the genes responsible for the mechanisms of cell death that we have identified so far e.g. oxidative stress.

• Once we have identified genes that are either up or down regulated we will look at their expression at the cellular level i.e. does it occur in neurones, glia etc

• Branch Talks (some with press coverage) –
  Bath, Worthing, Aberystwyth, Barnet, Horsham, Sevenoaks, North Herts/Stevenage, Croydon, Northampton, Cheltenham, Doncaster, Brentwood, Lincoln, Rugby, Christchurch, Leicester, Poole, Beccles, Byfleet, Malmesbury, Bradford, Dumfries, Oldham, Halifax, Worcester, Newbury, Longeaton, Bracknell, Portsmouth, Ashford, Stevenage (YAPP&Rs), NW Branches, South Anglia, Plymouth, Southampton, Dundee, Greenwich, Peterborough, Barking, Harlow, Hitchin, Lewisham, Oxford, Hampshire (YAPP&Rs), Basingstoke, Southend, Haltwhistle, Penrith, Welwyn and Hatfield, Guildford, Dartford, Amersham, Liverpool, Sutton, Kingston and Epsom, Hillingdon, Lincoln, Hull, York, Derby, Farnborough, Minehead, NW Somerset, Southport, Maidenhead, Barnsley, West Midlands, Stockport, Sandwell, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Cirencester, Bristol, Harrogate, Beccles, Cardiff, Newport, Aberdeen, Chichester, Reigate, Leamington, Bridport, West Herts.

• PDS AGM 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. YAPP&R’s AGM 2005.

• Scottish Branches meeting in Stirling.

• Northern Ireland Branches Meeting in Cookstown.

• BA Festival of Science, Dublin September 2005

• Meeting of PD nurse specialists in Nottingham. Community and support workers – Reading 2004, Kensington 2004

• Donate for the future article – "Parkinson" Magazine.

• SPRING conference – 11th March 2003

• Brain Awareness Week – 10th-14th March 2003

• PD nurse visit arranged by GSK – 25th March and 4th Nov 2003, 9th Jan and 13th Feb 2004, 18th November 2005

• Tissue Bank open day – 28th March 2003, 16th April 2004, 11th April 2005

• Article for Working With Older People – June 2003

• Articles in YapMag – August 2003, Winter 2003

• Articles in Branch literature – Worcester, Lewisham, North Herts (YAPP&Rs), Mid Somerset, North London, Guildford, Hillingdon, Taunton, Dorset (YAPP&RS)

• First Newsletter Out September 2003, Second April 2004, Third September 2004, Fourth April 2005, Fifth September 2005

• Sixth newsletter Out Now!!!

UK Parkinson's Disease Society Tissue Bank at Imperial College

Division of Neuroscience & Psychological Medicine
Imperial College of Science Technology & Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
Charing Cross Campus
Fulham Palace Road
London
W6 8RF

Tel: (Int +44-20) 020-8383-4917
Fax: (Int +44-20) 020-8383-4918

Email: pdbank@imperial.ac.uk

Website: www.parkinsonstissuebank.org.uk/