The National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium: a new paradigm in brain banking with an emphasis on infectious disease.
The National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) was founded in 1998, in response to the scientific need for well-characterized central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) tissues and fluids from HIV-infected individuals. In addition to performing the routine functions of non-transplant anatomic tissue banks, the Consortium offers a unique model for the integration of independent research entities in order to provide well-characterized tissues and fluids for the international research community. Herein, we describe the structure of the Consortium, pointing out the inherent strengths of linking together multiple independent sites for the purpose of banking HIV-infected nervous system tissues. We describe the neuropathology protocol that was adopted and successfully implemented at the four participating banks of the Consortium.
Morgello
S
S
Department of Pathology, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Gelman
B B
BB
Kozlowski
P B
PB
Vinters
H V
HV
Masliah
E
E
Cornford
M
M
Cavert
W
W
Marra
C
C
Grant
I
I
Singer
E J
EJ
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000473:pathology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011786:Quality Control; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000473:pathology