Apex Neuroscience
Brain Banking at Apex Neuroscience
Brain donation supports essential medical research that helps scientists better understand how the brain works and what causes medical disorders. At Apex Neuroscience, we carefully preserve and study donated brain tissue to advance neuroscience research, with the goal of benefiting future generations.
Brain banking is a crucial part of our research program. We focus on studying the cellular and molecular properties of brain tissue, and their preservation quality, to help improve our understanding of brain health and disease. This research depends entirely on the generosity of donors who choose to contribute to scientific knowledge.
Registering for Body and Brain Donation in Oregon
At Apex Neuroscience, we believe brain donations are essential to furthering human knowledge about the brain in health and disease.
Brain and body donations are generally facilitated through a separate non-profit organization, Oregon Body Gift. This organization is authorized to accept anatomical donations. When you register, you indicate your intent to donate your entire body after death, which includes your brain. This consent can be revoked at any time prior to the donation procedure.
Registration can either be for yourself or for your loved one who you are authorized to consent for. You can register your interest in whole body donation in less than 15 minutes on the Oregon Body Gift website. You are welcome (but not required) to write "Interested in donation to Apex Neuroscience brain bank" where the form asks "Is there anything else you would like us to know?"
Following anatomical donation with Oregon Body Gift, the brain tissue and de-identified data will be transferred to the Apex Neuroscience brain bank. Your donation will be used to advance methodologies in brain banking and critically needed neuroscience research.
For Those Outside Oregon
If you live outside Oregon, brain donation is still possible through our network of recovery partners across the United States. The registration process is similar, though the specific procedures may vary depending on your location. The anatomical donation is made to Oregon Body Gift, which is regulated as a Nontransplant Anatomical Research Recovery Organization (NARRO) in Oregon. The first step in the donation process is completing and submitting the required legal documentation available here:
Once we receive your completed forms, we will review them and connect you with a recovery partner in your area. These partners will coordinate the donation process in your location.
While the brain donation itself carries no direct cost, other arrangements such as transportation, cremation, or burial services remain the responsibility of the donor's estate or family. These should be arranged through a funeral home or crematory of your choice in your local area.
Alternatively, if you live in Oregon and are interested in only donating your brain to science, without a whole body donation, this is possible as well. Please contact us about this option if this is what you prefer.
Important Information About Your Donation
Your donation will be used exclusively for medical research to advance our understanding of the human brain. This involves standard scientific procedures, including tissue dissection and analysis. We want to be clear that this is distinct from experimental preservation technologies aimed at future revival, even in the uncertain event that this ever becomes possible in the distant future. Our mission is purely focused on contributing to current neuroscience research that can benefit human knowledge and medical understanding.
We recognize this is a big decision. Please contact us if you have any questions. We want to ensure you have all the information you need to feel fully informed and comfortable with this process. Thank you for considering this meaningful contribution to scientific knowledge.
For Recovery Partners
For individuals who live outside the Salem, Oregon area, we work with Recovery Partners to facilitate brain donations across the United States. These independent professionals perform tissue recovery procedures in their local areas and then help coordinate the shipment of the brain tissue to our facility. For more information about Recovery Partners or if you are able and interested in providing this critical service to support our mission, please visit our Recovery Partners page.
For Researchers
Our primary goal with our brain bank is to support impactful neuroscience research that honors the gifts of our donors. De-identified, fixed brain tissue samples is available to qualified investigators on a select basis. Requests will be evaluated by our internal review process to ensure responsible use of this resource. Approved studies must agree to policies on confidentiality and scientific integrity. Please note that due to limited tissue availability, we may not be able to honor all requests. Please contact us to discuss utilizing our brain bank resources in your research advancing our knowledge of the brain.
Oversight and Ethical Guidelines
Our brain bank operates under an exemption from Institutional Review Board (IRB) oversight issued by Pearl IRB after submission of our protocols for review. Donations originate solely from accredited body donation organizations where informed consent has been obtained and verified. We adhere to National Institutes of Health ethics practices in our research using brain bank resources, ensuring donor confidentiality is maintained through de-identification protocols.
Thank You
We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who have considered enrolling for whole body and brain donation, either with our organization or another if it is a better fit for you. Your selfless gift will help to advance our understanding of the human brain and contribute to research. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to science and humanity.