AIIMS to have Satellite Brain Bank to boost research in neurosciences

BHUBANESWAR: The department of pathology with laboratory medicine at AIIMS Bhubaneswar has received funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to establish Satellite Brain Bank with an objective to conduct research on neurosciences.

The national institute will set up this facility in its hospital in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru. “This will be the first of its kind in the eastern region and will boost research in neurosciences,” said AIIMS Bhubaneswar director Gitanjali Batmanabane.

“We are happy after receiving the approval to set up this brain bank. Neurosciences is an important area and a lot of work can be done in this field. We can store brain of deceased people and brain tissue of some patients after getting permission from the parents or guardians of the patient or deceased people. We will conduct research on that brains and its tissues,” said Batmanabane.

She said Suvendu Purkait, associate professor of department of pathology with laboratory medicine, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, will be the chief coordinator of the project. An amount of Rs 47.7 lakh has been sanctioned for the project for the first year. It will help the institute to set up the brain bank, she added.

Purkait said approved duration of the ICMR project is three years. Annual extension will be given after review of the work done on the project during the previous year. The brain bank will belong to AIIMS Bhubaneswar after the project is over, he added.

“In the western countries, they have their own brain banks. After a person dies because of brain disease, the experts conduct molecular research in different parts of the brain to know the cause of the disease. They also recommend what further treatment can be given for future betterment,” said Purkait.

It is a part of the national task force (NTF) project entitled, “Brain Bank Network India Initiative: Establishment of Satellite Brain Banks in India for Neuroscience Research.” Nimhans has already have a brain bank.