About the Initiative
A government-funded national mission to build India's neuroscience research infrastructure through a network of human brain banks.
The ICMR Brain Bank Network India
The Brain Bank Network India is a flagship initiative funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), aimed at establishing a coordinated national infrastructure for the collection, preservation, and scientific utilisation of human brain tissue.
With neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, stroke, and rare neurological infections posing a growing public health burden in India, the availability of high-quality, ethically sourced human brain tissue for research is critical — yet historically limited.
This network bridges that gap, enabling Indian and international researchers to access well-characterised brain specimens accompanied by standardised clinical data, supporting the next generation of neuroscience discoveries.
Our Mission
"Advancing Neuroscience Through the Preservation of Human Brain Tissue." We bridge donors and discovery, supporting global research to decode neurological disorders and improve human health.
Our Vision
To establish India's most comprehensive and accessible network of human brain banks — serving as a global resource for neuroscience research, neuropathological education, and public awareness about brain health.
Network Structure
The network operates with NIMHANS, Bengaluru as the Nodal Centre, providing central coordination, database management, and protocol standardisation. Two Satellite Centres — AIIMS Bhubaneswar and PGIMER Chandigarh — operate under common protocols while maintaining their regional and institutional specialisations.
Why This Matters
Brain diseases affect millions
India bears a disproportionate burden of neurological disorders, yet Indian-context research has historically been limited by access to quality specimens.
Indian-context research
Neurological diseases can present differently in Indian populations. Having locally sourced specimens allows research directly relevant to Indian patients.
Ethical and standardised
All tissue is collected with informed consent, following strict ICMR ethics guidelines and international biobanking standards.
Open to all researchers
The network is designed to be a shared national resource — accessible to researchers across India and globally through a transparent request process.