Donating your brain after death is a profound way to contribute to neurological research, potentially leading to breakthroughs in understanding and treating kernicterus.
The University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank (BTB) facilitates kernicterus donations, playing a crucial role in supporting scientific studies. Here’s how you can contribute:
Here’s how you can become a brain donor:
- Understand the Significance: Brain donation is vital for researchers to study conditions like kernicterus. By examining donated brain tissue, scientists can gain insights into the disease’s mechanisms, potentially leading to improved treatments and prevention strategies.
- Initiate the Process: Contact the University of Maryland BTB to express your interest in brain donation. They will provide detailed information and guide you through the necessary steps. If you are interested in donating, please email btbdonors@som.umaryland.edu for the link to our online registration forms or by calling (410) 706-1755.
- Complete Documentation: The BTB will supply the required consent forms and medical questionnaires. Accurately completing these documents ensures that your donation can be utilized effectively for research purposes.
- Communicate with Family and Healthcare Providers: Inform your loved ones and medical professionals about your decision to donate your brain. Their awareness and support are crucial, as they will be involved in coordinating the donation at the time of your passing.
- Inform us at Blue’s Gift Foundation, so that we can notify the researchers partnering with us in kernicterus research around the world.
- Plan for the Donation: Upon your passing, it’s crucial that the brain is collected promptly, typically within 24 hours, to preserve its viability for research. Make sure your designated representative knows to contact the brain bank immediately to coordinate the donation.
By following these steps, you can make a lasting contribution to science, potentially improving the lives of countless individuals affected by or at risk for developing kernicterus.
More information is available here: https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/btbank/brain-donation/
Additional Notes from the University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank
The University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank gratefully accepts brain and other affected tissue donations from individuals with neurologic, developmental, movement, and psychiatric disorders. We also accept brain and spinal cord donations from individuals with no underlying neurological or developmental disorders to serve as unaffected controls. We recover tissue from donors of all ages, especially those with pediatric onset and genetic disorders.
Preregistration is encouraged, but not required, as it simplifies and speeds the process of tissue recovery when death occurs.
Please note that UMBTB requires medical records to be sent at the time of registration. UMBTB cannot review or process a registration without medical records, except in some select cases.
Once a registration has been submitted, and medical records have been received, UMBTB will use guidelines established by the NIH NeuroBioBank network to determine if the donor is eligible to donate. Application review can take up to 2 weeks after receiving medical records unless the donor is noted to be transitioning or death has already occurred.
The donor or the donor’s NOK will receive notice that the registration has either been confirmed or rejected.
If you are interested in donating, please email btbdonors@som.umaryland.edu for the link to our online registration forms or by calling (410) 706-1755.
** If death is imminent or has already occurred and you are not yet registered with our bank, please indicate on your inquiry email for the link, give us a call at (410) 706-1755 before completing the forms. A staff member can be reached 24 hours a day in cases of death or imminent death emergencies. All routine questions should be emailed to staff or called in during business hours.