Are you a service member or veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Regardless of your answer, you may be able to help the VA’s ongoing effort to treat the condition. The VA Biorepository Brain Bank (VABBB) is looking for volunteers to donate brain tissue for their research efforts.

“If you suffered a blast or other brain injury in service you can donate your brain for research purposes following your death,” said Jane Babcock, an accredited resource officer based in Wisconsin.. “Maybe one day this will lead to better diagnostics and treatments.”

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) at least 67 percent of veterans have suffered some form of TBI from their time in the service, whether that be training, active duty, or the reserves. Severity can range from a mild concussion to more severe forms. Common symptoms of TBI can include:

• Headache
• Feeling tired (fatigue)
• Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
• Trouble sleeping

Other symptoms can include loss of balance and memory issues. More extreme cases may result in irritability, seizures, and limb weakness.

“Brain injuries are invisible to the eye, but their impacts are profound and lasting,” says Rick Willis, President and CEO of the BIAA. “We have the knowledge and resources to do better, and now is the time to act—not only to understand these injuries but to improve prevention, treatment, and support for those who sacrifice so much for our nation.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs Biorepository Brain Bank

The VA Biorepository Brain Bank (VABBB) collects, processes, and stores brain tissue for research purposes. It also distributes samples to other research programs. The VABBB studies a number of neurological issues that affect veterans, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), and TBIs.

However, the VABBB is also in need of control samples, tissue from brains not affected by these veterans or their families with neurological conditions. These play a vital role in the research process by giving researchers a baseline to compare samples.

Enrollment

When you enroll with the VABBB, you will be prompted to sign a consent form authorizing the organization to collect tissue at the time of death. The VABBB will also require consent from your next-of-kin to confirm your intent to donate.

The next step will involve phone and mail surveys. These surveys are conducted once a year and are designed to create a profile of your health history to better aid research. The information you provide is protected by HIPAA and will be kept confidential. Published studies will not divulge your personal information.

Tissue will be collected at the time of death. Upon the death of a participant, a designated family member or friend must contact the on-call study researcher, who will make the necessary arrangements. The VABBB will cover all costs related to collecting samples. The procedure will be performed at the nearest VA Medical Center. A pathology report will be provided to the next of kin upon request.

A Call to Action

Your decision to enroll with the VABBB can make an impact on studying TBIs and other mental issues that afflict the military community.

If you are interested in enrolling, you may find contract information on the VA’s official website.

By Peter Scherer