The National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium: a new paradigm in brain banking with an emphasis on infectious disease

The National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) was. founded in 1998, in re sponse to the scientific need for well-characterized central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) tissues and fluids from HIV-infe cted individuals. In addition to performing the routine functions of non-tr ansplant anatomic tissue banks, the Consortium offers a unique model for th e integration of independent research entities in order to provide well-cha racterized tissues and fluids for the international research community. Her ein, we describe the structure of the Consortium, pointing out the inherent strengths of linking together multiple independent sites for the purpose o f banking HIV-Infected nervous system tissues. We describe the neuropatholo gy protocol that was adopted and successfully implemented at the four parti cipating banks of the Consortium.