Hispano-American Brain Bank on Neurodevelopmental Disorders: An initiative to promote brain banking, research, education, and outreach in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders

Brett D. Dufour, Lilia Albores-Gallo, Jose Luna-Muñoz, Randi Hagerman, Amaya Miquelajauregui, Efrain Buriticá, Wilmar Saldarriaga, Mar Pacheco-Herrero, Ana Yris Silvestre-Sosa, Carla Mazefsky, Holly Gastgeb, Julia Kofler, Manuel Casanova, Patrick R. Hof, Eric London, Paul Hagerman, Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are conditions that present with brain dysfunction due to alterations in the processes of brain development. They present with neuropsychiatric, cognitive, and motor symptoms. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Fragile X syndrome (FXS) are two of the most common NDDs. Human brain tissue is a scarce resource that is obtained from postmortem donations. In the case of NDDs, specifically autism, the reduced donation rate of brains prevents researchers to investigate its pathology and fine anatomy. The Hispano-American Brain Bank of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Banco Hispanoamericano de CErebros de trastornos del NEurodesarrollo) or CENE is a large-scale brain bank for neurodevelopmental disorders in Hispano-America and the US. CENE's objectives are to collect and distribute brains of patients with NDDS, with a focus on ASD and FXS, to perform research, promote education of future scientists, and enhance public awareness about the importance of human tissue availability for scientific research on brain function and disease. CENE has thus far established a bilingual system of nodes and teams in several American countries including California-US, Pennsylvania-US, México, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Dominican Republic. CENE ensures that postmortem NDD samples used in research better match the world's genetic and ethnic diversity. CENE enables and expands NDD brain research worldwide, particularly with respect to ASD and FXS.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere13019
JournalBrain Pathology
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • Down syndrome
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Latinoamerica
  • autism
  • brain bank
  • neurodevelopmental disorders

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