News: Brain Bank Singapore unveils research phase and new partners to mark its 5th anniversary

By Retna Devi, Senior Assistant Manager, Media and Publications

A milestone achieved. A big leap forward for research on neurological conditions.

Brain Bank Singapore (BBS) was set-up in 2019 to retrieve post-mortem brain tissue for research into neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, and mental health conditions, including schizophrenia and depression. To date it remains the only brain bank in Southeast Asia.

On 1 November 2024, five years after its establishment, BBS invited its partners, donors and Guest-of-Honour Ministry of Health’s Director-General of Health Professor Kenneth Mak to commemorate its fifth anniversary. Held at LKCMedicine’s Toh Kian Chui Annex, the anniversary event celebrated the collaborative efforts of BBS’ four partners – LKCMedicine, the National Neuroscience Institute, the National Healthcare Group and the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine – as well as the brain bank’s growth of 380 brain donors, nine post-mortem brains and four post-mortem spinal cords.

“The Ministry of Health had identified Neurological Diseases as one of its seven areas of priority for research in the current Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan. By placing such a focus, we hope to support research and development (R&D) to study and better understand these diseases and work towards better interventions tailored for our local population. As neurological disease R&D in Singapore continues to grow, BBS plays a key role through its contributions as a national resource for post-mortem Asian human brain tissue, and its partnerships with both research institutions and invaluable donors,” said Professor Mak in his opening address.

In addition to reflecting on BBS’ milestones over the last few years, the event also signalled the way forward for Singapore’s brain tissue repository with two significant announcements.

Professor Mak announced that BBS “has commenced the release of tissue to the local neuroscience research community, enabling researchers to embark on studies utilising cutting-edge techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to provide deeper insights into neurological conditions [which affect the Asian population].”

To facilitate the distribution of brain and spinal cord tissues for research, BBS has assembled a Tissue Access Committee that is headed by Dr Anna Barron, LKCMedicine’s Nanyang Assistant Professor of Neurobiology of Ageing and Disease. The Committee will evaluate requests based on the scientific merit, ethical considerations, and potential impact of the proposed research.

This is undeniably game-changing for neurological research locally and internationally as it will advance our understanding of neurodegenerative disorders and how they affect Asians.

The second announcement was the addition of Duke-NUS and A*STAR as new partners, which will strengthen BBS’ standing as a key national resource and augment their efforts to raise public awareness on brain donation and neurological disorders.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by all six partners, with Prof Mak as witness.

Other BBS anniversary event highlights include a heartfelt sharing by Ms Evelyn Yeo, a family member of registered brain donor living with Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s disease and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and NTU Senior Vice-President (Health and Life Sciences) and LKCMedicine Dean Distinguished University Professor Joseph Sung presenting NTU Emeritus Professor Lionel Lee with a plaque, honouring Prof Lee for his pioneering work in setting up BBS.

Congratulations Brain Bank Singapore on laying an excellent foundation for the next 10 years!

To find out more about brain donation and how you can become a brain donor, read more here.