Wisconsin Brain Donor Program — WBDP  

Mild Cognitive Impairment Clinical Trial

Official title: University of Wisconsin-Madison: Wisconsin Brain Donor Program (WBDP)

Status Enrolling by invitation

Clinical Trial Summary

The Wisconsin Brain Donor Program (WBDP) stores brain and other tissues/samples (e.g. blood and CSF) from deceased individuals who have participated in longitudinal research studies, as well as other select participants. These individuals have donated their tissues in order to aid scientific research. Through the collection of central and peripheral nervous tissues as well as (in select cases) skeletal muscle tissue, the WBDP strives to advance the knowledge of diseases of memory disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease. Brain donations are needed from healthy individuals, as well as those affected by diseases of the nervous system.

Clinical Trial Description

The Wisconsin Brain Donor Program (WBDP) of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health is considered an investigator-initiated project. It was first established in 1995 to promote teaching and research in neurodegenerative diseases. In 2009 the WBDP aligned itself with the research goals of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (Wisconsin ADRC) in order to more effectively serve the research community. As a result, the WBDP is part of a nationwide network of ADC/ADRC's (Alzheimer's Disease Centers/Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers), funded by the National Institute on Aging that exists to promote research on neurodegenerative diseases. However, the WBDP operates as an independent research program under the direction of the WBDP and Wisconsin ADRC Principal Investigators.

The WBDP provides approved researchers access to indefinitely-stored postmortem brain tissues and post-mortem biospecimens (subject to the availability of remaining stock). Postmortem biospecimens also include CSF and whole blood.

The WBDP staff promotes and educates the lay community on the importance of brain donation.

Goal/Objectives The overall goal of the WBDP is to function as a useful brain tissue and biospecimen repository by distributing these materials to approved researchers studying neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD).

To achieve this goal, the WBDP has adopted the following overall objectives:

1. To serve as the tissue and biospecimen repository for the Wisconsin ADRC and Wisconsin ADRC-affiliated studies. In this role, the WBDP will support collaborative research by providing postmortem tissues, biospecimens, and genetic/genomic data for AD and other neurodegenerative illnesses to approved researchers, whether at the University of Wisconsin-Madison or other approved institutions. The investigators will also promote data and sample sharing with ADRC Clinical Core, WRAP, and ADRC-affiliated studies such as ADNI, DOD-ADNI, and ADNI Brain Bank.

2. To establish a registered group of individuals who intend to donate their brain tissue and biospecimens after death for neurodegenerative-disease related research (the WBDP Registry).

3. To oversee all aspects of brain tissue and biospecimen collection and management (their procurement, indefinite storage, and distribution to approved researchers).

4. To collaborate with the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC), the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD) and similar organizations, by providing coded biologic samples and data, inclusive of genetic data, in order to further AD research.

Due to the nature of this study, no specific number of subjects is being proposed. This will be an ongoing brain donation registry until funding is not renewed. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alzheimer Disease
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Mild Cognitive Impairment

• NCT number: NCT00585572
• Study type: Observational
• Source: University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Start date: March 2007
• Completion date: August 2050