Who: Patients with a documented history of a developmental or acquired disorder affecting the nervous system of children and related diseases of adults. We accept tissues from surgical biopsies, blood specimens, and post-mortem examinations.

When: Patients may register as Brain Bank donors at any time. You may contact us in writing, by email, or by telephone. The procedure for donation will be carefully explained and all questions answered concerning the tissue donation forms that need to be signed and returned to the bank.

Residual tissues from surgical biopsies and from post-mortem tissues may be donated. In all cases, the BTB only collects and stores residual tissues that are not needed to make a pathology diagnosis.

Family members, who represent the legal next-of-kin, may donate post-mortem tissue from affected patients. In cases where tissue donation is considered after a patient has died, telephone contact is necessary to ensure rapid tissue retrieval.

How to make a tissue donation: The toll-free number is 800-59-BRAIN (800-592-7246). We can be contacted from anywhere in the continental United States, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. This telephone number is used to request a tissue donation form, or to make arrangements for donating of surgical biopsy or post-mortem tissues.

You can download the donor brochure here or register online. It is also available online at www.miami.edu/braintissue-bank/