The NNTC is undergoing a transition to a contract based mechanism. Requests will not be processed from November 15, 2023 through an anticipated website re-opening in mid-December 2023, while changes are being implemented. During the transition, the website will be updated to reflect a new application processing rubric, which includes new timelines for processing and fulfillment of approved shipments. If a letter of support or specimens for a small pilot study is needed before the beginning of 2024, please submit an application by the end of October to allow time for processing before the November 15th deadline.
Mission:
The National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC), funded by NIMH and NINDS, was established in 1998 to collect, store, and distribute samples of central and peripheral nervous system tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and other organs such as heart, lung, liver, and kidney collected from HIV positive and negative patients, to support researchers around the world who wish to pursue sound research projects and further our knowledge of NeuroAIDS disorders. The Consortium’s unique contribution to brain banking and NeuroAIDS in general is its high quality and well characterized specimens. Extensive efforts are taken to collect comprehensive neuromedical, neuropsychological, and psychiatric data prior to death. Detailed pathological evaluations of brain, spinal cord, and peripheral organs are conducted post-mortem and samples are then banked according to strict established protocols to ensure uniformity across the four clinical sites. The resource has supported close to 750 requests to date and has resulted in more than 500 publications both from internal and external investigators. If you are a scientist interested in utilizing our resource, you can browse our repositories with the Query Tool, and learn how to request samples on the Requests page.
Current Cohort: As of June 22, 2023, 3,350 participants have enrolled into the clinical evaluation/tissue donation program. Note this number excludes cases with limited characterization. 1,466 individuals have donated CNS material to the bank. The Consortium is actively following 532 HIV+ individuals and 34 HIV- individuals at four clinical sites across the US.
Please refer to our COHORT REPORTS PowerPoint presentation for more complete details.
Suppresion Cohort: As of June 22, 2023, 231 participants have been classified as virally suppressed according to the criteria listed here. These participants include 108 with CNS specimens and other autopsy specimens collected.
Please refer to our SUPPRESSION COHORT REPORTS PowerPoint presentation for more complete details.
