BBS serves as a national tissue repository dedicated to research in brain disorders, with the goal of improving treatment strategies and clinical outcomes for various neurological/neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders whilst educating the public on the importance of brain tissues for research and thus, donation.

Establishing a brain bank in Singapore is vital for advancing research on neurological disorders, allowing for the study of their causes in Asians and the exploration of genetic differences across various ancestries. Moreover, with the rising prevalence of neurological diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, these conditions are becoming a critical research priority, particularly in light of Singapore’s aging population.

Brain Bank Singapore (BBS) was launched through a collaboration between the National Healthcare Group (NHG), Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), and the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) in 2019, with the National University of Singapore (NUS) joining as a new partner in 2021. It serves as a national tissue repository, dedicated to research in brain disorders with the aim of improving treatment strategies and enhancing clinical outcomes for a range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions. To date, the team has recruited a total of 409 donors, with 10 brains and 6 spinal cords placed into the repository.

BBS marked its 5th year anniversary in October 2024, with the event graced by Ministry of Health’s Director-General of Health, Professor Kenneth Mak and graced by pledged brain donors as well as community partners. During the event, BBS welcomed two new partners - the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Duke-NUS Medical School, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), solidifying a strengthened national commitment to advancing neurological and psychiatric research through brain donations. Another key highlight of the event was hearing from some donors who shared the personal stories behind their decision to sign up as brain donors.

In the years ahead, BBS aims to build on its strong partnerships with healthcare organizations, community partners, patients, and the public to enhance donor recruitment and tissue collection efforts. Moreover, the institute will continue raising awareness about neurodegenerative conditions and further educate the public on the importance of brain tissue for research.