London Brain Bank

London Brain Bank

Path: /organizations/london-brain-bank Type: Research Infrastructure / Brain Bank Location: London, UK (UCL Queen Square) Founded: 1991 Host Institution: [UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology](/institutions/queen-square-neurology) Website: [londonbrainbank.org.uk](https://londonbrainbank.org.uk)

Overview

London Brain Bank

Path: /organizations/london-brain-bank Type: Research Infrastructure / Brain Bank Location: London, UK (UCL Queen Square) Founded: 1991 Host Institution: [UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology](/institutions/queen-square-neurology) Website: [londonbrainbank.org.uk](https://londonbrainbank.org.uk)

Overview

The London Brain Bank (also known as the UCL Brain Bank or Queen Square Brain Bank) is the UK's premier tissue repository for neurodegenerative disease research, established in 1991 as part of the [UCL Institute of Neurology](/institutions/queen-square-neurology). Located at [Queen Square](/institutions/queen-square-neurology) in central London, it provides researchers worldwide with access to meticulously characterized human brain tissue for studies of Alzheimer's disease, [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [Progressive Supranuclear Palsy](/diseases/progressive-supranuclear-palsy), and related neurodegenerative disorders["@lbb2024"][@love2015].

The bank holds one of the largest and best-characterized collections of [tauopathy](/mechanisms/tau-pathology) tissue in the world, making it an invaluable resource for researchers studying [4R-tauopathies](/mechanisms/4r-tauopathies) including PSP, [corticobasal syndrome](/diseases/corticobasal-syndrome), and related disorders.

History and Foundation

Established in 1991, the London Brain Bank was among the first purpose-built brain banks in the UK dedicated to neurodegenerative disease research. It grew from the collaborative effort of [UCL](/institutions/university-college-london) neurologists and neuropathologists at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, leveraging Queen Square's deep expertise in movement disorders and dementia[@love2015].

Collection and Holdings

Tissue Types

The bank maintains:

• Fixed tissue: Paraffin-embedded blocks from all major brain regions
• Frozen tissue: Fresh-frozen tissue stored at -80C for molecular/biochemical studies
• Fresh frozen sections: Rapidly frozen tissue for RNA/DNA extraction
• Fixed slabs: Large-format tissue sections for regional mapping
• CSF samples: Matched cerebrospinal fluid from many donors

Brain Regions Dissected

Comprehensive sampling includes:

• Frontal cortex (BA9, BA46)
• Temporal cortex (entorhinal cortex, hippocampus)
• Parietal cortex
• Occipital cortex
• Basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, globus pallidus)
• Subthalamic nucleus
• Brainstem (subtantia nigra, locus coeruleus)
• Cerebellum (including dentate nucleus)
• Spinal cord

Disease Coverage

The collection includes extensive tissue from:

• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) (Braak stages I-VI)
• [Progressive Supranuclear Palsy](/diseases/progressive-supranuclear-palsy) (all subtypes)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) with and without dementia
• [Corticobasal Syndrome](/diseases/corticobasal-syndrome)
• [Dementia with Lewy Bodies](/diseases/dementia-lewy-bodies)
• [Frontotemporal Dementia](/diseases/frontotemporal-dementia) (all variants)
• [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)
• Age-matched controls

Case Numbers

• 2,000+ brain donations
• 500+ PSP cases (one of the world's largest PSP collections)
• 600+ AD cases with varying Braak stages
• 400+ PD/LBD cases
• Extensive longitudinally-followed cases with clinical data

Research Focus Areas

Tau Pathology Research

The London Brain Bank's PSP collection has been instrumental in:

• Establishing the distribution patterns of [4R tau](/entities/tau-protein) in PSP
• Characterizing the different PSP subtypes (Richardson syndrome, PSP-PAGF, PSP-CBS, etc.)
• Studying the relationship between tau pathology and clinical phenotype
• Investigating tau propagation mechanisms in 4R-tauopathies
• Developing and validating immunohistochemical methods for PSP diagnosis

Neuropathological Standards

The bank has contributed to establishing:

• Consensus diagnostic criteria for PSP
• Standardized sampling protocols for tauopathies
• Quality assurance standards for brain bank operations
• Digital pathology workflows for tissue-based research

Biomarker Validation

Tissue from the bank has been used to validate:

• Neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a progression marker
• Tau PET imaging findings against postmortem data
• Fluid biomarkers from matched antemortem CSF/blood samples

Access Procedures

Eligibility

The bank serves qualified researchers from academic institutions and biopharma companies worldwide. Applications are reviewed for:

• Scientific merit and potential to advance understanding of neurodegenerative disease
• Feasibility given available tissue
• Quality of research methodology

Application Process

Costs

Nominal processing and handling fees apply to cover operational costs. Fee schedule available upon request.

Notable Research Contributions

The London Brain Bank tissue has been used in landmark studies including:

Connection to Research Community

The London Brain Bank is integrated with:

• [UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology](/institutions/queen-square-neurology): Primary academic host
• [CurePSP](/organizations/curepsp): Partnership for PSP case recruitment
• [Tau Consortium](/organizations/tau-consortium): Supplies tissue for consortium research projects
• UK Brain Bank Network: Coordinates with other UK brain banks for rare cases

Cross-References

• [Progressive Supranuclear Palsy](/diseases/progressive-supranuclear-palsy)
• [4R-Tauopathies](/mechanisms/4r-tauopathies)
• [Tau Pathology](/mechanisms/tau-pathology)
• [CurePSP](/organizations/curepsp)
• [UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology](/institutions/queen-square-neurology)
• [Alzheimer's Disease Brain Banks](/resources/ad-brain-banks-tissue-repositories)
• [Mayo Clinic Brain Bank](/institutions/mayo-clinic-brain-bank)
• [Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center](/institutions/harvard-brain-tissue-resource-center)

References