Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The UM BEB is one of the six NIH NeuroBioBank (NBB) and made significant strides over last year. As of July 1, 2025, we have reached the milestone of 1,000 registered live donors. We processed and preserved over 100 brain donations over one year. We have distributed close to 20, 000 biological samples since the UM BEB became the NIH NBB in 2013. We have supported thousands of research studies around the world and contributed to many high-impact publications. Our partnerships with academic institutions, hospitals, Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), Tissue Banks, Eye Banks and Medical Examination Offices have continued to grow, expanding the reach and relevance of our work.
At the heart of our work is a clear and vital mission: to advance understanding of the human brain through the ethical collection, preservation, and distribution of post-mortem brain tissue for research. Our goal is to support scientific discoveries that will lead to better treatments—and eventually cures—for neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, schizophrenia, and many others.
These achievements would not be possible without our strong leadership team and remarkable staff. From donor registration to tissue procurement to clinical data management, from quality control to logistics, each member of our team plays a crucial role in upholding the highest standards of care, precision, and respect. I am deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment and professionalism.
To the individuals and families who have chosen to donate brain tissue—THANK YOU. Your selfless decision is a gift to science and to future generations. Each donation represents a legacy of hope, enabling researchers to make discoveries that could not be achieved in any other way. We honor your generosity with every sample we preserve and every project we support.
Looking ahead, we are excited about new initiatives, including expanded donor outreach, education programs, and the launch of collaborative projects in neurological and psychiatric disorders. These efforts will further strengthen our ability to support cutting-edge research and serve the scientific community.
As we move forward, we remain grounded in our mission, driven by science, and inspired by the extraordinary generosity of our donors and their families. Thank you all for being part of this important journey.
With sincere appreciation,
Xiaoyan Sun M.D., Ph.D.
Executive Director, Brain Endowment Bank
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine