About the POND Brain Bank at Georgetown University
What does POND mean?
POND is the acronym for “PANDAS/PANS and Other Neuroimmune Disorders.”
What is the mission of the POND Brain Bank?
The POND Brain Bank was established to act as a central repository of brain tissue from donors diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS and other neuroimmune disorders. We serve researchers and medical students by making tissue available for their work that will advance the understanding of these disorders, ultimately benefiting patients and their families as well as clinicians. Our goal is to assist research efforts to ensure that no person will lose their life to PANDAS/PANS, or lose the years it can take to successfully treat these neuroimmune disorders.
Why are brain donations are so important?
Brain donations provide researchers with an opportunity to expand understanding about the causes of PANDAS/PANS so that more effective options for treatment and, ideally, prevention may be found. A single brain donation offers valuable information to hundreds of research studies. Donations give hope to those in the fight against PANDAS/PANS and other related neuroimmune disorders.
How does one arrange a brain donation?
The POND Brain Bank seeks brains from people who have been diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS or other Neuroimmune Disorders, as well as those without neurological disease. (Healthy brain tissue is essential for comparison purposes in research.) For individuals interested in making provisions in their living wills for such a donation, please feel free to contact us.
If a loved one who was diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS has died and you would like to learn more about donating his or her brain for research, please contact us as soon as possible after death. Brain tissue is most beneficial soon after a loved one’s passing. We understand enrollment to the brain bank may occur during a very difficult time, but the POND Brain Bank is available to assist with the process of making this important donation.
Our Neurology Brain Bank Coordinator can be contacted for information and forms to review (Ms. Carolyn Ward, cw2@georgetown.edu or 202-687-4466). If you email or call outside of working hours, please leave a message and we will respond within approximately 24 hours. Dr. Harris, Georgetown Brain Bank Director (bth@georgetown.edu), and Dr. Khan, Georgetown Brain Bank Assistant Director (gak2@georgetown.edu), are also available to answer questions and discuss the process.
About the POND Brain Bank at Georgetown University
What does POND mean?
POND is the acronym for “PANDAS/PANS and Other Neuroimmune Disorders.”
What is the mission of the POND Brain Bank?
The POND Brain Bank was established to act as a central repository of brain tissue from donors diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS and other neuroimmune disorders. We serve researchers and medical students by making tissue available for their work that will advance the understanding of these disorders, ultimately benefiting patients and their families as well as clinicians. Our goal is to assist research efforts to ensure that no person will lose their life to PANDAS/PANS, or lose the years it can take to successfully treat these neuroimmune disorders.
Why are brain donations are so important?
Brain donations provide researchers with an opportunity to expand understanding about the causes of PANDAS/PANS so that more effective options for treatment and, ideally, prevention may be found. A single brain donation offers valuable information to hundreds of research studies. Donations give hope to those in the fight against PANDAS/PANS and other related neuroimmune disorders.
How does one arrange a brain donation?
The POND Brain Bank seeks brains from people who have been diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS or other Neuroimmune Disorders, as well as those without neurological disease. (Healthy brain tissue is essential for comparison purposes in research.) For individuals interested in making provisions in their living wills for such a donation, please feel free to contact us.
If a loved one who was diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS has died and you would like to learn more about donating his or her brain for research, please contact us as soon as possible after death. Brain tissue is most beneficial soon after a loved one’s passing. We understand enrollment to the brain bank may occur during a very difficult time, but the POND Brain Bank is available to assist with the process of making this important donation.
Our Neurology Brain Bank Coordinator can be contacted for information and forms to review (Ms. Carolyn Ward, cw2@georgetown.edu or 202-687-4466). If you email or call outside of working hours, please leave a message and we will respond within approximately 24 hours. Dr. Harris, Georgetown Brain Bank Director (bth@georgetown.edu), and Dr. Khan, Georgetown Brain Bank Assistant Director (gak2@georgetown.edu), are also available to answer questions and discuss the process.