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MS Brain Bank

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:06 am
by CureOrBust
Researchers believe the MS Brain Bank, a new facility based at the University of Sydney for the collection of brain tissue, could significantly advance our understanding of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=2142

It has its own web site, but I couldn't find it.

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:41 pm
by bromley
COB,

Here is another article on the Australian Brain Bank.

http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?j12 ... 6&w=464753

The interesting bit is:
But scientists from the University of Sydney have a completely new theory about what happens to MS patients as the disease gets worse.

"What we are talking about now is something else is going on in the central nervous system with MS that involves some diffuse process that may have nothing to do with these spots that have dominated our thinking about this disease for the last 30 years," Professor John Prineas from the University of Sydney said.
So apparently 'spots' (areas of inflammation / lesions) are not the real issue - it's a disease of the whole CNS. The article also mentions that animal models have been a waste of time (no surprise there then). I wonder if the MS researchers who have happily taken research grants for 30 years will be paying them back. And all those poor little mice!

As a mark of respect for those mice who suffered I am giving up visiting MS websites for Lent. So in 40 days time when I next visit this site I expect to see some big news (I'm talking MS research, although Dignan and Jimmylegs annoucing their engagement would be nice).


Ian

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:00 pm
by gwa
Please tell me that the entire scientific community has not waited until 2008 to start dissecting the MS brain (postmortem) and looking for clues. I have thought that this type of research would have been going on for decades.

Ian, I assume that you have willed your brain to research as it is most definitely a different glob of materials than "normal".

gwa

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:45 am
by CureOrBust
gwa wrote:Please tell me that the entire scientific community has not waited until 2008 to start ...
I Saw the original story on TV, and when I searched I found lots of old stuff. For example:
MS Life - Issue 8 - Spring 2001 - Brain bank
First there was the blood bank, then the sperm bank and now Brisbane has its own brain bank - for deposits only!
http://www.msaustralia.org.au/publicati ... inbank.htm

The following gives a clue why this one has started
General brain banks also collect brains afflicted with MS; however, they have not been very successful at acquiring significant numbers of MS brains. The Australian Brain Bank Network (as of Nov 2007) stores only three MS brains.
http://www.msaustralia.org.au/msra/rese ... n-bank.php

Re: MS Brain Bank

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:28 am
by NHE
...for deposits only!
Darnit! I was hoping to get a spare!