The NSWBTRC has ethics approval from the University of Sydney. The donor recruitment program (called the “Using our Brains” donor program) was established in 2002 as a pre-mortem consent program inviting members of the community (those living within the NSW Sydney Metropolitan, Hunter, or Illawarra Region) to donate their brain to neuroscience research after they die. Their collection focuses on controls, alcohol-related brain damage, and mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. The NSWBTRC encourages those affected with specific brain disorders and those who are medically healthy to donate. Those eligible to be a donor: (1) are aged 18 years and over, (2) live in NSW Sydney Metropolitan, Hunter or Illawarra Region, (3) are not a Whole Body Donor (different to organ donation), (4) do not have an infectious disease such as Hepatitis, HIV, AIDS, CJD, (5) have not been diagnosed with a brain tumor, stroke, epilepsy, or other neurological illness, (6) do not suffer from a serious head injury with loss of consciousness. Eligible donors complete a pre-screen via telephone or the online inquiry form and complete a “consent kit” that contains detailed information on the Using our Brains program and consent forms.
