Therapeutic breakthroughs in Huntington Disease (HD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson Disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative disorders have been accelerated by access to generously donated human samples. The HD Biobank at the University of British Columbia focuses on neurodegenerative disorders and is a leader in the collection of HD samples globally. Since the 1980s the biobank has collected blood, plasma, brain and peripheral tissues, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and DNA from over 5000 diverse individuals offering a powerful resource for scientific discovery. The HD Biobank has a postmortem tissue collection network across Western and Central Canada, as well as blood and saliva collection protocols nationally and globally. Samples are shared with researchers and industrial partners promoting national and global collaboration. All projects are reviewed by a scientific committee to ensure these precious and scarce samples are used ethically for the benefit of the community. Despite its achievements, the HD Biobank’s current funding limits its operational capacity. Canadians want to participate in neurodegeneration research by donating samples but are limited by Canada-wide logistics for sample collection. Staffing constraints to prepare samples and high recovery costs present a barrier for sample access for researchers. This proposal to Brain Canada for Platform Support will promote (1) donor recruitment through engagement and education, (2) expansion of the biobank’s sample collection network across Canada, (3) modernizing equipment to support ongoing innovation in the efficient processing and long-term preservation of irreplaceable samples, and (4) establishment of scientific partnerships with reduced sample costs to researchers nationally and globally. A national neurodegeneration biobank represents a deep manifestation of the partnership between Canadians and researchers to advance therapies and improve brain health. With funding from the Brain Canada Platform Support Grant, the Biobank will become a biorepository of national significance with wide ranging impacts on neuroscience research across Canada and globally.
