Pledge to Donate Your Brain
"Together we can uncover the great mysteries of Brain and Mind"
Brain donation is a completely voluntary, posthumous act that enables scientists to study the human brain in unprecedented detail. Your contribution can lead to breakthroughs in understanding Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, stroke, epilepsy, and dozens of other conditions that affect millions of Indians.
Why Brain Donation Matters
No substitute for the real thing
Despite advances in brain imaging and laboratory models, postmortem human brain tissue remains the only way to study many neurological diseases at the cellular and molecular level.
Indian-context research
Neurological diseases can present differently in Indian populations. Research using Indian donor brains is essential to develop treatments relevant for our people.
Your legacy lives on
Your donated brain may contribute to research that helps hundreds of thousands of patients. It is a gift that continues to give, long after you are gone.
Dignity and respect
The brain is treated with the highest respect. Donors remain anonymous, and all handling follows strict ethical and legal guidelines set by ICMR.
How Brain Donation Works
Pledge during your lifetime
You register your intention to donate your brain after death. This can be done independently or jointly with a family member.
Family is informed of your wish
Equally important is informing your family, as they will need to contact the brain bank at the time of death.
Contact the bank at the time of death
The brain bank team guides the family through the process. Brain donation is time-sensitive and must happen within a specific window after death.
The brain is carefully retrieved
A trained neuropathologist retrieves the brain respectfully, and the body is returned to the family undisfigured for any final rites.
Processing and preservation
The brain is divided — portions are frozen for molecular studies, and others are preserved in formalin for neuropathological examination.
Research and discovery
Anonymised specimens are made available to approved researchers who study the brain to advance understanding of neurological diseases.
Ready to Pledge?
Brain donation is managed by each individual centre. Please contact your nearest centre to learn about the pledge process, documentation, and what to do at the time of donation.