About Us
Apex Neuroscience is a non-profit organization in the field of neuroscience research. Our specialization lies in advancing methods for brain banking and brain preservation, through the integration of scientific research and bioengineering. Our overarching mission is to expand the boundaries of discoveries in neuroscience, maintain high ethical standards, and cultivate collaboration with the wider scientific community.
What is Brain Banking?
Brain banking involves the collection, preservation, and distribution of human brain tissue to facilitate research. These "banks" serve as critical resources for scientists studying various aspects of the brain, from foundational neuroscience to the study of neurobiological disorders. High-quality brain preservation is vital for brain banking, as the integrity of the tissue significantly impacts the rigor and reproducibility of research outcomes.
What is Brain Preservation?
Brain preservation can serve in two primary functions. The first aim is to maintain the brain's structural integrity for future research, a crucial aspect of brain banking. The second aim is carefully preserving and protecting the information in someone’s brain for an indefinite length of time, with the goal of future revival if technological and societal advancements render this feasible and humane. At Apex Neuroscience, our goal is to improve the quality of brain preservation methods, which could be used by people who are interested in pursuing either or both of these goals.
Current Research
Our current research efforts are centered on three key areas: preservation procedures, measurement of preservation quality, and long-term storage strategies.
Preservation Procedures
Our ongoing work in the preservation procedure focuses on refining the application of brain perfusion methods — commonly used in animal research — to postmortem human brain tissue. We address a variety of challenges that emerge in a brain banking context, such as vascular integrity degradation, the large size of the human brain, and the need to adapt procedures to accommodate varying research objectives. Our aim is to develop a flexible and effective postmortem brain perfusion protocol. We are also investigating the integration of perfusion methods with immersion fixation methods.
Measurement of Preservation Quality
A significant aspect of our research involves the improvement of methodologies to measure preservation quality. Primarily, we employ electron microscopy to assess the degree of connectome integrity and traceability in preserved brains. Our goal is to establish a more robust understanding of how factors such as the preservation procedure, the agonal state, and the postmortem interval impact cellular structure. This knowledge will aid in refining our brain preservation methods.
Long-Term Storage
Our research extends to the development and validation of effective strategies for the long-term storage of preserved brain tissue. This involves a comprehensive examination of fluid preservation and cryopreservation techniques, aiming to secure the availability of well-preserved human brain tissue for a broad range of future research goals.
Guiding Our Research
Jordan Sparks, DMD, the founder of and a director at Apex Neuroscience, has a motivating vision for the future of neuroscience research. His practical experience and insights into brain preservation form the cornerstone of our organization's research trajectory.
Andrew McKenzie, MD, PhD, also a director at Apex Neuroscience, brings knowledge in brain banking, histology, and neuropathology. His scholarly focus on structural brain preservation helps to guide our research directions.
Felix Richter, MD, PhD, another director at Apex Neuroscience, brings clinical and scientific expertise in post mortem research, molecular analytics, statistical learning, computer vision, and intensive care.