| This
chapter
sets
out
the
Medical
Research
Council's
(MRC)
involvement
in
post
mortem
brain
research
from
the
beginning
of
the
Council's
support
in
the
1950s.
The
chapter
describes
the
MRC's
early
research
support
for
the
Corsellis
(Runwell)
and
Cambridge
brain
collections,
the
Council's
relevant
ethical
policies
and
research
grant
conditions,
and
the
grants
the
MRC
awarded
to
the
joint
research
team
in
Manchester
in
1988/89.
|
|
|
|
| The
role
of
the
Medical
Research
Council
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
is
the
Government's
main
agency
for
fostering
and
funding
biomedical
research.
In
keeping
with
this
important
role,
the
MRC
has
made
a
pivotal
contribution
to
the
development
of
clinical
and
basic
research
on
the
brain
in
this
country.
This
has
been
achieved
in
two
ways.
|
|
|
|
| First,
the
MRC
has
a
distinguished
record
of
supporting
world
class
neuropsychiatric
research
in
its
designated
research
units,
and
by
awarding
programme
and
project
grants
to
other
research
teams
through
the
Council's
competitive
research
funding
systems.
|
|
|
|
| Second,
and
of
equal
importance,
have
been
the
Council's
thematic
reviews
of
different
research
fields
to
identify
the
most
promising
future
lines
of
research.
The
subjects
identified
through
these
reviews
then
become
priority
areas
for
future
Council
funding.
|
|
|
|
|
| Through
these
mechanisms
the
MRC
has
kept
this
country's
basic
and
clinical
research
competitive
with
the
best
in
the
world
in
many
fields
including
the
neurosciences.
|
|
|
|
| Sources
of
information |
|
|
|
| For
this
investigation
the
MRC
has
provided
a
written
response
about
the
policies
and
procedures
for
brain
research
and
brain
banking
which
have
been
developed
over
the
last
four
decades.
|
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|
|
|
| The
chapter
also
draws
on
contemporaneous
notes
of
workshops
and
other
MRC
meetings,
and
programme
and
grant
applications
to
the
Council.
The
minutes
of
MRC
meetings
on
brain
research,
brain
banking
and
related
subjects
have
been
particularly
informative,
and
have
provided
a
contemporary
insight
to
the
thoughts
of
the
research
community
in
the
1970s
and
1980s.
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC's
Topic
Review
issued
in
December
1995
entitled
'The
MRC's
Role
and
Guidelines
for
MRC-funded
Brain
Banks'
provides
a
clear
statement
of
the
Council's
policies
in
the
mid
1990s(1).
This
followed
from
the
work
of
the
Brain
Bank
Review
Committee
set
up
in
1991.
The
review
includes
principles
that
all
researchers
funded
by
the
Council
were
required
to
follow.
|
|
|
|
| Why
did
the
MRC
decide
to
support
research
on
the
brain?
|
|
|
|
| The
importance
of
studying
the
brain
and
of
investigating
the
causes
and
effects
on
the
brain
of
neuropsychiatric
disorders
such
as
Alzheimer's
disease
and
schizophrenia,
has
long
been
recognised.
The
MRC's
reasons
for
supporting
post
mortem
research
on
the
brain
are
set
out
in
the
1995
Topic
Review:
|
|
|
|
| 'Systematic
brain
banking
has
added
a
new
dimension
to
neuroscience,
contributing
to
major
advances
in
research
into
human
neuroimmunological
and
neurodegenerative
diseases.
New
treatments
of
Parkinson's
disease
and
Alzheimer's
disease
were
originally
based
on
discovery
of
neurotransmitter
abnormalities
(in
the
1960s
and
1970s)
in
post
mortem
tissue
obtained
from
clinically
and
neuropathologically
diagnosed
cases'.
|
|
|
|
| The
section
later
continues:
'All
pathological
studies
of
the
human
brain
depend
on
fundamental
knowledge
of
the
distribution
of
key
components
(receptors,
transmitters,
peptides,
cytoskeletal
proteins).
These
have
been
mapped
over
the
last
two
or
three
decades
using
normal,
banked
tissue'.
|
|
|
|
| Historical
perspective
of
the
MRC
support
for
brain
research
|
|
|
|
| Starting
in
the
1950s,
the
MRC
funded
brain
research
though
programme
and
project
grants,
and
from
the
1970s
supported
this
field
of
research
in
its
own
units.
The
brain
related
programmes
and
projects
that
MRC
has
supported
are
far
too
numerous
to
list,
but
collectively
the
results
achieved
have
made,
and
continue
to
make,
a
substantial
contribution
to
new
knowledge
and
to
improve
the
care
of
patients
with
neuropsychiatric
diseases.
|
|
|
|
| MRC
support
for
brain
banks |
|
|
|
| The
Corsellis
(Runwell)
Collection |
|
|
|
| For
consistency
in
this
report
this
collection
has
been
referred
to
as
the
'Corsellis
collection'
although
in
earlier
years
it
was
referred
to
as
the
Runwell
collection.
|
|
|
|
| Research
on
brains
from
hospital
post
mortems
was
a
novel
development
in
1950
when
Dr
Corsellis
began
to
collect
and
study
brains
in
the
Pathology
Department
at
Runwell
Hospital.
The
MRC
soon
recognised
the
importance
of
this
new
field
of
research
and
in
1953
awarded
Dr
Corsellis
a
research
grant,
Chapter
33.
|
|
|
|
| MRC
support
for
research
on
the
Corsellis
collection
continued
for
the
next
four
decades.
In
1985
the
MRC
provided
support
through
staff
attached
to
the
Division
of
Psychiatry
at
the
Clinical
Research
Centre.
The
research
programme
of
the
Division
was
linked
to
studies
based
on
the
Corsellis
collection,
Chapters
31
and
32.
|
|
|
|
| The
research
at
CRC
was
led
by
Dr
Tim
Crow
and
Dr
Eve
Johnstone.
Dr
Crow
was
subsequently
appointed
Professor
of
Psychiatry
at
Oxford
University
and
Dr Johnstone
was
appointed
Professor
of
Psychiatry
at
Edinburgh
University.
|
|
| When
the
Clinical
Research
Centre
closed
in
1994,
project
grant
support
for
research
on
the
Corsellis
collection
was
maintained
by
MRC.
In
1995
Professor
Crow
received
MRC
support
to
use
Magnetic
Resonance
Imaging
on
fixed
brains
to
study:
'Developmental
anomalies
of
cerebral
asymmetry
and
corpus
callosum
in
schizophrenia
and
psychoses'.
|
|
|
|
| The
Cambridge
brain
bank |
|
|
|
| The
MRC
recognised
the
importance
of
chemical
mechanisms
within
the
brain
when
it
set
up
the
Neuro
Chemical
Pharmacology
Unit
(NCPU)
at
Cambridge
in
1971.
As
its
name
implies,
the
Unit
was
established
to
research
the
chemistry
of
the
brain.
The
origins
of
the
Cambridge
brain
bank
were
described
in
Chapter
26.
|
|
|
|
| The
Huntington's
disease
project,
also
described
in
Chapter
26,
began
in
1970.
This
project
came
about
because
of
the
freedom
MRC
gives
to
senior
scientific
staff
in
all
its
units
to
undertake
research
projects
of
their
own
choosing
in
the
context
of
the
proposed
programme
of
work
approved
by
the
Council.
|
|
|
|
| In
1975
the
MRC
awarded
a
grant
specifically
for
investigation
of
Huntington's
disease.
From
this
beginning
MRC
support
for
the
Cambridge
brain
bank
evolved.
The
banking
functions
were
formally
recognised
by
the
MRC
in
1980.
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
decided
to
close
the
NCPU
in
1985,
but
awarded
a
five
year
programme
grant
to
maintain
the
brain
banking
facility.
This
was
administered
through
the
Department
of
Psychiatry,
which
was
headed
by
Professor
Paykel.
Other
research
applications
were
submitted
in
parallel,
Chapter
26.
|
|
|
|
| In
1987
the
MRC
decided
in
principle
to
refocus
the
bank's
activities
on
collecting
brains
for
specific
projects.
This
was
a
reflection
of
the
Council's
view
that
MRC
brain
banking
activity
should
focus
on
systematic
collection
and
distribution
to
underpin
high-quality
and
peer
reviewed
research
relevant
to
the
Council's
strategy.
Research
teams
were
expected
to
make
their
own
arrangements
for
collection
of
brain
samples
relevant
to
their
work
rather
than
to
rely
on
brain
banks.
|
|
|
|
| Prospective
studies
at
Cambridge
and
elsewhere
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
approved
the
'Cognitive
Function
and
Ageing
Study
(CFAS)'
in
1988.
As
its
name
implies,
this
is
a
long-term
investigation
of
the
ageing
process.
Cambridge
was
one
of
the
six
participating
centres.
The
MRC
changed
the
direction
and
emphasis
of
its
support
for
brain
research
with
the
funding
it
provided
for
this
and
other
prospective
studies.
For
these
studies
a
research
nurse
was
appointed
to
the
programme.
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
carried
out
a
further
review
in
1992
as
a
result
of
which
the
Council
funding
for
the
banking
function
at
Cambridge
came
to
an
end
in
September
1998,
but
support
for
CFAS
and
other
long-term
prospective
investigations
is
ongoing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
brain
banks
the
MRC
had
supported
prior
to
1991
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
brain
metabolism
unit
in
Edinburgh
|
|
|
|
| The
brain
bank
in
this
unit
was
funded
by
the
MRC
from
1978
until
1989
when
post
mortem
studies
in
the
unit
ended.
The
brain
collection
was
later
transferred
to
the
Department
of
Pathology
in
Edinburgh
where
it
was
no
longer
dependent
on
MRC
support.
|
|
|
|
| The
Department
of
Neuropathology
at
Oxford
|
|
|
|
| The
brain
bank
in
this
Department
had
received
MRC
support
since
1980
for
research
on
Alzheimer's
disease,
other
dementias
and
schizophrenia,
which
included
brain
tissue
collection,
Chapter
30.
|
|
|
|
| Newcastle
brain
tissue
bank |
|
|
|
| This
bank
had
been
funded
by
the
MRC
since
1980.
It
was
located
within
the
Council's
Neuro
Chemical
Pathology
Unit.
|
|
|
|
| Institute
of
Psychiatry,
London |
|
|
|
| The
London
brain
bank
on
Alzheimer's
disease
at
the
Institute
of
Psychiatry
has
been
funded
by
MRC
since
1988.
|
|
|
|
| UK
HIV
brain
banks |
|
|
|
| Three
banks
to
study
the
neurological
effects
of
HIV
were
funded
by
the
MRC
in
1990.
These
are
located
at
the
Institute
of
Psychiatry,
London,
the
Department
of
Neuropathology,
Oxford,
and
the
Western
General
Hospital
in
Edinburgh.
|
|
|
|
| Further
details
of
all
these
banks
can
be
found
in
the
MRC
1995
Guidelines
on
Brain
Banks(1)
and
Annex
110.
|
|
|
|
| MRC
ethical
guidelines |
|
|
|
| The
MRC's
1962/63
annual
report
was
the
starting
point
for
the
ethical
structures
that
are
now
in
place
in
this
country.
It
reflected
a
signal
change
to
the
way
that
research
on
patients
was
to
be
conducted
and
the
MRC
was
the
first
organisation
in
this
country
to
formulate
ethical
principles
to
be
observed
by
those
undertaking
medical
research.
|
|
|
|
| Since
that
first
statement
in
1963
the
MRC
has
progressively
developed
and
strengthened
its
policies
on
the
ethics
of
medical
research.
The
MRC's
statement
provides
full
details
and
indicates
the
ethical
requirements
the
Council
place
on
all
researchers
who
received
MRC
funding.
|
|
|
|
| At
all
times
since
1962/63,
the
MRC
has
expected
all
researchers
it
supports
to
follow
current
ethical
guidelines
issued
by
the
MRC
and
other
organisations
as
appropriate
and
to
comply
with
the
MRC's
conditions
and
grant
rules.
|
|
|
|
| There
are,
however,
five
dates
in
the
subsequent
MRC
chronology
that
are
particularly
relevant
to
this
report.
|
|
|
|
| In
1972
the
MRC
issued
a
new
statement
on
'Responsibility
in
the
use
of
medical
information
for
research'.
This
provided
guidance
on
investigations
involving
the
transfer
of
medical
information
of
identifiable
patients.
It
made
no
reference
to
research
on
post
mortem
material.
|
|
|
|
| In
1985
the
earlier
statement
was
updated:
'Responsibility
in
the
use
of
personal
medical
information
for
research;
principles
and
guide
to
practice:
a
statement
by
the
Medical
Research
Council'.
Although
this
updated
statement
did
not
mention
the
use
of
human
material,
the
role
of
Ethical
Committees
was
referred
to.
|
|
|
|
| In
1992
a
further
update
was
issued:
'Responsibility
in
investigations
on
human
participants
and
material
and
on
personal
information:
guidance
by
the
Medical
Research
Council'.
This
refers
to
human
tissue
although
post
mortem
material
was
not
specifically
mentioned:
|
|
|
|
| 'Where
the
approval
of
the
appropriate
local
ethical
body
is
appropriate,
evidence
of
such
approval
must
be
forwarded
with
the
application.
In
some
cases
this
may
lead
to
a
dialogue
...about
whether
a
particular
proposal
needs
such
approval,
and
the
Council
may
require
a
letter
from
the
relevant
ethical
committee
chairman
confirming
that
it
does
not'.
|
|
|
|
| In
1995
the
'Guidelines
for
MRC-funded
Brain
Banks'
contained
a
section
devoted
to
'Consent
for
Removal
and
Retention
of
Tissue'(1)
.
|
|
|
|
|
| On
Coroners'
post
mortems
the
guidelines
state:
'While
HM
Coroners
do
not
require
relatives'
consent
to
authorise
medico-legal
autopsies
and
retention
of
tissue
to
establish
the
cause
of
death,
the
constraints
on
retention
of
tissue
for
other
purposes
such
as
research
still
apply'.
|
|
|
|
| On
ethical
aspects,
the
guidelines
include:
'The
requirements
for
decency
and
respect
for
the
dignity
of
human
remains
are
important
ethical
considerations'.
|
|
|
|
| 'Health
Departments'
guidance
makes
it
clear
that
Local
Research
Ethics
Committees
should
be
consulted
about
proposals
involving
the
recently
dead'.
|
|
|
|
| In
April
2001
the
Council
updated
its
guidance
in
its
Ethics
Series
in:
'Human
tissue
and
biological
samples
for
use
in
research'(2).
|
|
|
|
This
guidance
emphasises: |
|
|
|
-
'Informed
consent
is
required
from
the
donor
(or
the
next
of
kin,
if
the
donor
has
died)
whenever
a
new
sample
is
taken
wholly
or
partly
for
use
in
research';
|
|
-
'All
research
using
samples
of
human
biological
material
must
be
approved
by
an
appropriately
constituted
research
ethics
committee';
|
|
-
'Researchers
should
treat
all
personal
and
medical
information
relating
to
research
participants
as
confidential'.
|
|
|
|
| Project
grant
regulations |
|
|
|
| The
MRC's
regulations
issued
in
1979
state:
|
|
|
|
| '(1)
If
the
proposals
involve
procedures
for
the
removal
of
human
tissue
at
post-mortem
examination
applicants
are
required
to
confirm
they
will
conform
with
the
relevant
Code
of
Practice.
|
|
|
|
| (2)
Any
procedures
undertaken
during
the
course
of
a
project
that
involves
the
removal
of
human
tissue
at
post-mortem
examination
(Human
Tissue
Act
1961)
must
be
carried
out
in
accordance
with
the
guidance
issued
by
the
Health
Departments/Local
Authority'.
|
|
|
|
| The
first
of
these
regulations
was
amended
in
1983
so
that
the
applicants
had
to
confirm
'at
the
time
of
their
application
that
they
will
conform
with
the
relevant
Code
of
Practice'.
|
|
|
|
| MRC
discussions
on
brain
banking
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
considered
collection
of
brains
for
research
and
banking
procedures
on
a
number
of
occasions.
Ethical
aspects
of
brain
research,
taking
account
of
the
policies
described
above,
were
discussed
several
times
starting
in
the
1970s.
|
|
|
|
1976
Workshop
on
brain
banking
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
hosted
a
workshop
chaired
by
Professor
Corsellis
on
5
July
1976.
This
was
attended
by
many
of
the
UK
leaders
of
brain
researchers
at
that
time.
|
|
|
|
| At
the
start
of
the
workshop
the
MRC
made
clear
'that
although
the
Workshop
was
held
under
the
auspices
of
the
MRC,
it
was
not
intended
that
the
Council
should
monopolise
brain
banking
in
the
UK
or
be
responsible
for
all
of
its
support
financially'.
|
|
|
|
| It
was
also
agreed
that
'discussion
should
be
restricted
to
the
banking
of
human
post-mortem
tissue,
except
for
biopsy
specimens
in
the
case
of
Creutzfeldt-Jacob
disease'.
|
|
|
|
| The
section
of
the
workshop
report
headed
'Collection
of
brains'
records
'The
meeting
noted
that
the
major
source
of
supply
was
the
Hospital
Pathology
Department.
Mortuary
technicians
generally
appreciated
some
payment
for
their
efforts
to
provide
specimens.'
|
|
|
|
| 'Coroners
courts
provided
a
further
source
of
supply
of
post-mortem
brains.
In
law
the
Coroner
has
the
absolute
right
of
disposal
of
any
part
of
the
body,
but
in
practice
there
were
frequently
ethical
and
religious
objections
to
this.
These
could
sometimes
be
circumvented
by
the
Coroner
requesting
the
further
examination
of
brain
material
as
an
extension
of
his
own
investigations.
There
were
certain
advantages
inherent
in
suicide
cases.'
|
|
|
|
| It
is
clear
from
the
record
of
that
meeting
that
those
present
believed
that
Coroners
had
authority
to
allow
the
retention
for
research
of
any
organs
and
tissues,
although
Coroners
would
take
account
of
the
objections
of
the
relatives.
|
|
|
|
| National
pituitary
collection
programme
|
|
|
|
| Chapter
5
outlined
the
national
pituitary
collection
programme.
This
began
as
an
MRC-funded
research
project
before
the
enactment
of
the
Human
Tissue
Act
in
1961.
No
documents
were
available
about
collection
arrangements
that
took
place
in
the
early
years
of
the
research
project.
|
|
|
|
|
| 1977
MRC
Steering
Committee
for
Human
Pituitary
Collection
|
|
|
|
| The
legality
of
retention
of
tissues
on
the
authority
of
the
Coroner
was
questioned
eighteen
months
later
at
a
meeting
of
the
MRC
Human
Pituitary
Collection
Committee
held
on
16
December
1977.
|
|
|
|
| A
member
of
the
Committee
reported
that
he
'had
been
approached
by
a
number
of
pathologists
supplying
pituitaries
who
were
disturbed
by
the
difference
in
procedure
between
hospital
post-mortems
and
Coroner's
post-mortems
regarding
the
permission
of
relatives
for
the
removal
of
tissues.
Some
pathologists
were
uneasy
about
the
situation
and
were
concerned
about
possible
adverse
publicity.'
|
|
|
|
| 'After
discussion
the
Steering
Committee
agreed
that
interpretation
of
the
Human
Tissues
(sic)
Act
was
quite
clear
and
the
spirit
of
the
act
was
not
being
broken
by
present
procedures
because
as
Coroners
were
in
legal
possession
of
the
bodies
of
those
whose
deaths
were
reported
to
them,
they
were
legally
entitled
to
say
whether
human
tissues
(i.e.
pituitaries)
could
be
taken
from
the
bodies
and
used
for
medical
education
and
research…..DHSS
would
discuss
and
clarify
with
the
Home
Office
the
whole
situation.
For
its
own
part,
the
Steering
Committee
agreed
that
the
Chairman
should
write
to
the
Coroner's
Association
making
them
aware
of
the
various
points
which
had
been
raised'.
|
|
|
|
| In
this
connection
Circular
HC(77)28
had
been
issued
to
the
NHS
in
August
1977.
This
addressed
directly
the
question
of
the
removal
of
pituitaries
for
the
national
collection
programme.
Referring
to
the
Human
Tissue
Act,
it
stated:
'specific
consent
is
not
required
by
the
Act'.
|
|
|
|
| At
a
meeting
between
MRC
and
DHSS
officials
on
17
January
1978,
discussion
about
the
prospects
for
collecting
more
pituitaries
referred
to
the
need
for
'Reassurance
that
pathologists
and
mortuary
technicians
were
legally
safeguarded'…
'the
Council
had
always
understood
that
the
method
of
collecting
pituitaries
for
the
MRC
Collection
conformed
with
the
necessary
requirements'.
|
|
|
|
| On
17
April
1978
the
MRC
wrote
to
the
DHSS
about
an
approach
to
the
Coroners
Society
to
encourage
the
collection
of
pituitaries
from
Coroners'
cases,
but
it
is
not
clear
if
the
letter
to
Coroners
was
ever
sent.
|
|
|
|
| At
the
next
meeting
of
the
Steering
Committee
on
23
May
1978,
the
Committee
was
informed
that
the
DHSS
'had
drafted
a
letter
to
pathologists
advising
them
of
the
legal
position
regarding
the
removal
of
glands'.
|
|
|
|
| Further
correspondence
followed
and
on
15
December
1978
the
MRC
was
informed
that
the
Regional
Medical
Officers
had
considered
the
matter.
'Their
opinion
was
that
the
problem
had
generally
settled
down
and
they
did
not
wish
to
draw
attention
to
it
again
unless
the
need
should
arise'.
|
|
|
|
| The
correspondence
between
the
MRC
and
the
DHSS
apparently
ends
at
this
point
but
further
advice
about
pituitary
collection
was
sent
to
the
NHS
on
25
April
1980.
This
letter
was
issued
after
the
DHSS
had
taken
over
responsibility
from
the
MRC
and
encouraged
an
increase
in
pituitary
collection.
|
|
|
|
| Review
of
MRC
brain
tissue
banks,
22
October
1991
|
|
| The
first
meeting
of
this
Committee
reviewed
the
operation
and
procedures
of
nine
brain
tissue
banks
supported
by
the
MRC,
and
for
comparative
reasons,
information
about
three
other
banks
in
the
UK
and
three
in
Europe.
In
their
comments
to
the
Committee,
one
bank
noted:
'Although
always
in
short
supply,
normal
tissues
were
obtainable
through
a
network
of
links
with
coroners
and
London
hospitals'.
|
|
|
|
| At
the
same
meeting
another
bank
referred
to
the
need
to
obtain
'the
confidence
and
consent
of
patients
and
their
families'.
|
|
|
|
| The
Committee
'recognised
that
Banks
would
wish
to
refuse
to
supply
material
for
uses
which
did
not
have
appropriate
ethical
approval',
but
made
no
specific
comment
about
ethical
approval
for
the
collection
of
brains
or
brain
samples.
|
|
|
|
| The
Committee
recommended
that
an
expert
working
party
should
help
the
MRC
set
up
'a
national
register
of
stored
and
available
brain-tissues'.
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
Brain
Bank
Review
Users
Conference,
3
June
1994
|
|
| The
Council
convened
a
conference
on
3
June
1994
at
the
Clinical
Research
Centre.
This
was
planned
to
discuss
the
guidelines
which
the
Council
intended
to
publish
following
the
work
of
the
review
committee
set
up
in
1991.
The
conference
was
attended
by
the
leading
MRC-supported
research
teams
and
considered
all
aspects
of
post
mortem
brain
research.
For
each
condition
discussed,
the
papers
referred
specifically
to
ethical
considerations.
There
were
also
many
references
to
the
involvement
of
families
in
decisions
affecting
brain
donation.
|
|
|
|
A
paper
prepared
for
the
meeting
by
Professor
Eve
Johnstone
considered
in
detail
the
ethical
requirements
and
emphasised
that
consent
was
as
essential
as
approval
by
LRECs.
|
|
|
|
| The
difficulty
of
obtaining
control
material
was
stressed
at
this
Conference.
|
|
|
|
| MRC
funding
of
brain
research
at
Manchester
University
|
|
|
|
| In
1988
and
1989
the
MRC
awarded
grants
to
three
brain-related
projects
in
the
Department
of
Physiology
at
Manchester
University.
These
did
not
involve
the
MRC
in
supporting
the
general
activities
of
the
joint
programme's
brain
bank.
|
|
|
|
| Dr
Paul
Slater
was
the
applicant
in
all
three
projects.
These
involved
investigation
of
the
neurochemistry
of
the
brain
and
were
planned
to
compare
the
results
obtained
in
diseased
brains
with
those
taken
from
neurologically
normal
people.
|
|
|
|
| These
applications
were
described
in
Chapter
11
and
were
supported
by
the
MRC.
|
|
| In
1993
a
small
project
grant
of
one
year's
duration
was
also
awarded
to
the
Department
of
Psychiatry,
the
details
of
which
are
not
available.
|
|
|
|
| Summary |
|
|
|
| MRC
policies,
ethical
principles
and
regulations
|
|
|
|
| In
1962-63
the
MRC
led
the
way
in
developing
the
first
set
of
principles
for
ethical
evaluation
of
research
in
human
beings.
These
were
published
in
1964.
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC's
approach
to,
and
involvement
in,
brain
banks
and
brain
banking
can
be
seen
to
follow
the
general
evolution
of
professional
practice
over
the
four
decades
since
the
enactment
of
Human
Tissue
Act
in
1961.
|
|
|
|
| To
ensure
that
ethical
principles
were
observed,
the
Council
imposed
a
requirement
that
all
grant
holders
must
obtain
clearance
from
Ethics
Committees.
This
was
made
explicit
in
the
1979
regulations.
|
|
|
|
| Despite
the
clarity
of
the
MRC's
regulations,
this
investigation
has
identified
two
research
teams
that
received
support
from
the
Council
but
disregarded
the
Council's
requirements.
|
|
|
|
| While
the
Council
regularly
updated
its
guidance
on
the
ethical
responsibilities
of
researchers,
it
was
not
until
1995
that
specific
guidance
on
brain
banks
was
given.
This
drew
attention
to
the
need
for
Ethics
Committees
to
be
routinely
consulted
on
research
relating
to
the
recently
dead.
|
|
|
|
| Following
the
publication
of
the
Redfern
Report(3)
in
2001,
the
MRC
published
further
guidelines
on
'Human
tissue
and
biological
samples
for
use
in
research'.
This
provides
a
comprehensive
and
clear
set
of
principles
for
the
lawful
and
ethical
use
of
human
tissues.
|
|
|
|
| All
researchers
supported
by
the
Council
are
expected
to
follow
the
policies,
regulations
and
procedures
that
the
MRC
has
developed.
Through
these
the
Council
has
sought
fully
to
comply
with
all
legal,
ethical
and
administrative
requirements.
|
|
|
|
| Support
for
brain
banks
and
research
|
|
|
|
| The
Medical
Research
Council
recognised
the
importance
of
post
mortem
research
on
the
brain
as
early
as
1953
when
the
Council
provided
support
for
Dr
Corsellis.
|
|
|
|
| In
1970
research
into
Huntington's
disease
was
undertaken
at
the
MRC's
Neuro
Chemical
Pharmacology
Unit
at
Cambridge.
|
|
|
|
| In
1979
the
MRC
formally
supported
the
Cambridge
brain
bank,
and
some
MRC
support
continued
until
September
1998.
|
|
|
|
| In
1987
the
main
focus
of
the
brain
collection
at
Cambridge
changed
to
the
prospective
collection
for
a
long-term
study
of
Cognitive
Function
and
Ageing
(CFAS).
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
funded
two
other
brain
banks
before
1980
and
five
more
between
1980
and
1990.
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC
was
also
active
in
supporting
research
projects
and
programmes
in
other
centres.
|
|
|
|
| In
1991
the
MRC
set
up
a
Brain
Bank
Review
Committee.
Following
the
Committee's
deliberations,
the
Council
published
'Guidelines
for
MRC-funded
Brain
Banks'
in
1995.
|
|
|
|
| In
1988
and
1989
the
MRC
supported
three
project
grants
in
the
joint
programme
at
Manchester
University.
|
|
|
|
| Brains
from
Coroners'
cases
|
|
|
|
| The
use
in
research
of
brains
obtained
from
Coroners'
post
mortems
was
brought
to
the
MRC's
notice
and
discussed
at
a
number
of
meetings
convened
by
the
Council
starting
in
1974.
|
|
|
|
| When
the
legality
of
collecting
brains
was
discussed
in
the
1970s,
the
view
was
taken
that
the
collection
of
brains,
pituitaries
and
other
tissues
from
Coroners'
cases
was
lawful.
It
was
believed
that
Coroners
had
authority
and
discretion
to
agree
to
the
retention
of
tissues
for
research
and
teaching.
|
|
|
|
| On
the
collection
of
pituitaries,
legal
advice
was
specifically
obtained
about
the
National
Collection
Programme
and
the
DHSS
was
consulted
after
legal
doubts
had
resurfaced
in
1977.
The
DHSS
Circular
issued
earlier
that
year
gave
reassurance
that
specific
consent
was
not
required.
|
|
|
|
| The
MRC's
|
