Researchers: Frequently Asked Questions

How to obtain brain tissue?

• Please fill out and submit a tissue request form and completed biosketch to Ms. Marina Selenica ms4739@georgetown.edu . Ms. Selenica will respond within approximately 72 hours.

What is the process and timeline for obtaining samples for research?

• All tissue requests and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Given how precious these tissue samples are, the Biospecimen Use Committee will convene to discuss the application and vote on whether to approve the request. Should questions arise, our director Dr. Brent Harris (bth@georgetown.edu) will reach out to the researcher.
• After a consensus is reached to approve the request, a telephone call will be scheduled with Dr. Harris to discuss which tissues will be used, the transfer of material to the researcher, and any other questions.
• After reaching a mutual agreement on all issues, a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) with standardized language (for academic or industry purposes) will be drafted and sent to the researcher by our legal team for review. 
• Our goal is to say “yes” to every request. Thus, the POND Director and Biospecimen Use Committee work closely with each researcher to help optimize experimental plans, validate assays, and ensure that the researchers are always thinking about the next step — such as identifying potential biomarkers for eventual clinical trials.