{"id":6734,"date":"2023-04-06T16:21:52","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T20:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cte\/?page_id=6734"},"modified":"2025-02-12T09:12:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T14:12:04","slug":"brain-donation-for-professionals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cte\/brain-donation-registry\/brain-donation-for-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"Brain Donation for Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are a medical examiner, coroner, death investigator, autopsy technician, funeral home director, or other autopsy professional, we welcome opp<\/span>ortunities for collaboration on cases. Please reach out to Sophia Nosek at <\/span><\/span>snosek@bu.edu<\/span><\/span><\/a> or the on-call brain donation coordinator at 617-992-0615. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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To download a PDF copy of our Brain Donation Guide for Medical Examiners, Coroners, and Autopsy Professionals, please click here: Brain Donation Guide for Medical Examiners, Coroners, and Autopsy Professionals<\/a><\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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For urgent brain donation matters, please call the BU CTE Center’s 24\/7 voicemail\/pager at 617-992-0615. <\/span><\/b><\/span>Brain donation is a time-sensitive process, so we must be in touch with the legal next-of-kin or medical examiner as soon as possible around the time of death. Families are encouraged to express their intent to donate to the UNITE Brain Bank to coroners, investigators, medical examiners, and funeral directors.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For general brain donation inquiries,<\/span><\/b>\u202fplease contact:<\/span>
\n<\/span>Sophia Nosek<\/b><\/strong><\/a> at snosek@bu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Family members of deceased athletes, military veterans, first responders, and more may donate their loved one\u2019s brain, spinal cord, eyes, and blood after their death to the UNITE Brain Bank to be examined neuropathologically for evidence of CTE or other disorders of the central nervous system. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The identity of donors is confidential and protected by both IRB rules and HIPAA laws<\/span>.<\/span><\/i> However, many donors have chosen to allow the CTE Center to release their names to draw attention to this important work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brain Recovery Specialists<\/strong><\/p>\n

The UNITE Brain Bank is fortunate to collaborate with a network of highly-skilled independent specialists across the U.S. and Canada trained to carry out removal of the brain and other neural tissues. Recovery specialists are often willing to travel several hours to reach a donor. They are familiar with the UNITE Brain Bank protocols for confidentiality, consent, and brain removal.<\/p>\n

Important Information for Current and Prospective Recovery Specialists:<\/u><\/p>\n

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  1. Contact:<\/strong> If you would like to be added to our database of recovery specialists, please send your resume, rates, and references to Sophia Nosek (snosek@bu.edu<\/a>). If your contact information has changed, kindly call or email us to update it, so that we can easily reach you if needed.<\/li>\n
  2. Requirements:<\/strong> Recovery specialists must be trained to carry out whole brain removal with no damage to the specimens using minimally invasive procedures. It is essential that the procedure does not alter a donor\u2019s appearance in a way that would be incompatible with an open casket funeral. The UNITE Brain Bank has specific requirements regarding the timing, refrigeration of the body, brain removal, packaging, and shipment. We appreciate scheduling flexibility and availability after hours whenever possible, as well as willingness to travel to a donor\u2019s location. Detailed instructions are provided by the on-call coordinator during the recovery process.<\/li>\n
  3. Privacy and Confidentiality:<\/strong> Ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of brain donors and their families is critical. For this reason, we provide recovery specialists with secure means of communication with the UNITE Brain Bank. Informed consent is obtained remotely by the on-call coordinator from the next-of-kin\/legal representative. A copy is securely forwarded to the recovery specialist and funeral home and\/or medical examiner\u2019s office prior to the procedure. We rely on specialists\u2019 professional commitment to protect confidentiality in order to secure and protect these forms.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Funeral Directors<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Funeral homes play an integral role in the brain donation process.<\/p>\n