Distribution Process

Distribution Application Process

The SNUH Brain Bank is responsible for the collection and management of brain resources. The distribution of brain tissue is carried out by institutions authorized as cadaver-providing institutions under the relevant laws and regulations, including the “Act on Dissection and Preservation of Corpses.”

The SNUH Dementia Brain Bank protects the rights of donors and distributes its brain resources to all researchers whose projects advance the field of neuroscience and serve the public interest, provided that the following conditions are met. However, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, brain tissue may also be provided in the form of processed resources or data.

Eligibility for Distribution Application

Both of the following conditions must be met to apply for distribution.

What to Know Before Applying for Distribution

The principal investigator oversees the entire research project and is responsible for all aspects of using the distributed resources.

• Distribution applications must be submitted by the principal investigator of the research project.
• Resources must be requested in the minimum quantity necessary for the research and used within the research period stated in the research plan and the approval period of the relevant Institutional Review Board.
• Researchers must use the resources only for the research described in the submitted distribution application, research plan, and other related documents. In the event of any change, the researcher must immediately notify the Dementia Brain Bank and submit an application for a change of utilization plan to obtain approval for the change.
• Approved resources may not be transferred to another institution or researcher at the researcher's discretion. Any resources remaining after use must be discarded or returned immediately upon expiration of the utilization period, and a certificate of disposal of distributed resources must be submitted.
• Researchers must faithfully comply with any research management monitoring request from the Dementia Brain Bank during the course of the research.
• Upon completion of the research, a utilization result report (tissue utilization report) must be submitted to the Dementia Brain Bank.
• As a general rule, resources are intended for domestic distribution; any other matters are determined through review by the Steering Committee.
• When resources are distributed to a researcher, they must be anonymized.
• The clinical team that recommended the autopsy holds priority distribution rights to the relevant cadaver (brain) resources and clinical data for a certain period.

Distribution Principles for Brain Tissue Stored Before Establishment

These are separate principles for resources stored before the establishment date of the SNUH Dementia Brain Bank (July 9, 2015).

1. 1

   Brain tissue from autopsies performed before July 9, 2015 and stored in the SNUH Department of Pathology (hereinafter “legacy resources”) is incorporated into the Dementia Brain Bank resources after undergoing an anonymization process.

2. 2

   Legacy resources may be used for research purposes in accordance with the SNUH IRB approval for the operation of the Dementia Brain Bank, titled “Human brain banking for brain research.”

3. 3

   The distribution principles for legacy resources follow the existing resource distribution principles.

Distribution Flowchart

The overall flow from consultation to resource distribution and disposal after the research is completed.