One of the world's leading brain banks – and the only one of its kind in Canada – the Douglas Institute unveiled new and improved facilities Monday thanks to a $9-million investment.
Referred to as a hidden gem at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, the Douglas–Bell Canada Brain Bank was already considered impressive, but will now be on the cutting edge as it seeks to unlock the mysteries of the brain and mental health.
Some 3,000 brains are stacked one on top of the other at the brain bank, each one of them possibly holding the key to a breakthrough.
Every year, about 1,000 brain tissue samples are distributed all over the world from the Douglas.
In order to maintain that reputation, Quebec invested more than $7 million, and Bell topped it off with another $2 million to keep the facilities up to date, mainly with new, high-tech equipment.
There's also a new research lab that focuses on the changes that occur in the brains of people who are suicidal or have mood disorders.
The investment will help researchers do their job more effectively on a larger scale.
“We'll be able now to better store brains, better classify. We will also be able to investigate, study the brain tissue, asking questions that before we were not able to,” said Gustavo Turecki, director of the Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank.
Among other studies, the team is looking it is how traumatic events change the brain on a cellular level with the hopes of one day translating findings into treatment and prevention programs.
