Establishment of the First Systematic Brain Bank Network for Psychiatric Disorders in Japan

Summary

It is our intention to establish the first systematic brain bank for schizophrenia in Japan and, in so doing, develop innovative collaborative research programs between neuroscience and psychiatry researchers, based on the shared premise that the biological basis of brain function is the key to understanding the cause of this mental illness. Specimens of schizophrenia brain tissue for research will be collected and appropriately preserved to interact with diagnostic assessment to ensure appropriate identification and documentation of tissue held. We have established a strong network between our department and 42 associated hospitals, precise protocols for brain collection, and the site to store the materials. We predict at least ten schizophrenia and ten control brains will be collected annually. This project represents a unique opportunity to explore the biologically and socially important question of the changes associated with schizophrenia in the human brains. It brings together the resources contained in the brain tissue collection maintained by a team of enthusiastic psychiatrists and pathologists; and the expertise of experienced neurochemists, to promote and increase current Japanese schizophrenia research projects to internationally competitive levels, thus leading to the development of new therapeutic agents.