152 / 162
human tissue, with careful and measured interpretation, remain of utmost
importance to informing relevant TBI research.
Keywords: Study Design, Translation
WLW1-03
THE GLASGOW TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ARCHIVE
Jennifer Hay
1,2
, William Stewart
1,2
1
Glasgow University, Neuropathology, Glasgow, UK
2
Southern General Hospital, Neuropathology, Glasgow, UK
As an outcome of the international, inter-disciplinary meeting on the
‘‘Late Effects of Head Injury’’ held in Washington in 1969 there was a
call for the establishment of brain banks specifically dedicated to studies
in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Almost a half century later, the Glasgow
TBI Archive represents the only comprehensive archive of human brain
tissue dedicated to studies in TBI internationally. Comprising materials
from TBI patients across a spectrum of ages, the Glasgow TBI Archive
represents a comprehensive and unique archive of biospecimens con-
taining: in excess of 2000 cases of traumatic brain injury as paraffin wax
blocks sampled from immersion fixed whole brain specimens; ap-
proximately 50 TBI cases as snap-frozen, fresh tissue samples; exten-
sive, non-TBI control tissue samples as paraffin tissue blocks and snap
frozen tissue; in excess of 1200 DNA samples from patients in ongoing
longitudinal clinical studies in TBI. Each case has been meticulously
gathered using standardised sampling protocols, with all specimens
linked to demographic data, clinical information including details on
injury and cause of death, post mortem interval and neuropathology
findings. Under the governance arrangements of the Greater Glasgow
and Clyde Health Board Bio-repository, the Glasgow TBI Archive has
broad and enduring ethical approval for use in research studies via a
streamlined online application to the GGC Bio-repository Steering
Committee. The influence of this archive can be traced through the
literature on the neuropathology of human TBI, with over 150 peer-
reviewed publications derived from observation on material from this
resource, including landmark and continued observations on axonal
injury and neurodegeneration after TBI. The requirement for robust and
informative TBI research utilising human tissue samples is as relevant
now as it was in 1969. Further, there exists a pressing need to expand
current archive holdings and to establish new tissue holdings to support
relevant studies in the wider TBI research community.
Keywords: neuropathology, TBI archive
WNR1 WINTR Reception
WNR1
CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN NEUROTRAUMA RESEARCH
Mary Ellen Michel
NIH, NCMRR, NICHD, Rockville, USA
Early career choices involve funding decisions, from pre- and post-
doctoral applications at academic institutions to deciding to pursue
research in the private sector, or even leave the bench or bedside to
have careers in administration, law, writing or other disciplines. For
those who choose academics (and the private sector) grant writing will
be a big part of their endeavors. The biggest funder of biomedical
research in the US is the federal government starting with NIH, fol-
lowed by DoD, NSF, CDC, SAMHSA. Private foundations have al-
ways supported investigators and projects, usually targeted toward
specific diseases. Navigating the funding spectrum might not be a full
time job, but it is definitely a significant part of anyone’s career and
successful funding is critical for individuals, academic institutions and
small business ventures. NIH offers various workshops, seminars,
discussions, websites that can help you, but networking is critical to
your success. If you are an associate, post-doc, or assistant professor,
ally yourself with someone who has a grant. Get to know what they do
to be successful: if it involves secret handshakes or lucky charms,
don’t knock it. Have them introduce you to their program officers at
NIH/NSF. Go to national meetings and participate in interest groups.
Publish as much as you can—find the ‘‘least publishable unit’’ for
your field. If you have the opportunity, be an
ad hoc
reviewer for a
funding agency. AND be good mentors to the people who will in-
evitably start to look to you for advice.
Keywords: NIH, career development
A-152