If you are a qualified scientist, with approval from your institutional review board for use of human tissues or fluids in your research, you can request specimens from our program. We ship specimens nationally and internationally as customs permit.
What resources can Manhattan HIV Brain Bank supply?
Our longitudinal study entails collection of in-depth, neurologic, neuropsychologic, and psychiatric assessments, viral load tests and T-cell enumerations, and a battery of standard laboratories including chemistries, lipid levels, and hepatitis serologies. We obtain medical histories, including information about major medical illnesses and antiretroviral therapy and other types of medications. Patients donate blood and urine, and approximately a third undergo optional lumbar punctures. Our biospecimens are highly annotated.
When our subjects die, we procure a variety of samples for research on, but not limited to, brain, spinal cord, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, lung, lymph node, genitourinary tract, muscle, and peripheral nerves. Tissues are available both in fixed and frozen formats, and we can provide unstained slides or tissue scrolls in microfuge tubes upon request. Tissues, fluids, and de-identified clinical data are available free of charge to all qualified researchers who meet scientific and regulatory requirements.
How can I request your resources?
To request our resources, you must use the forms available on the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) website. However, prior to this application, we strongly encourage you to contact us, or the NNTC coordinating office, to discuss your research plan. This information allows us to determine how our resources can best support your research. There is no charge for this consultation, nor for any biospecimens, tissue, or fluid shipped to you. We require a courier account number to send your specimens to you. We do not provide specimens to individuals or corporations who intend to use samples for commercial purposes.
While approvals for requests come from the national level, we also participate in the decisions. Typically, applicants hear within a month of application submission.