COVID-19 Impact on NNTC:
As you are all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting many academic and medical institutions. The NNTC is currently navigating some of these impacts which include disruptions to participant visits and assessments, data collection, and specimen distributions in support of approved request applications. Investigators with approved applications should anticipate delays in shipments due to COVID-19 as some sites may need to temporarily close or prepare for such a closure. The Data Coordinating Center (DCC) will continue to accept new applications; however, investigators should be aware that review by the NNTC Allocations Committee may also be delayed. Approved requests for data likely will be less affected, but still may experience some delay. Any questions or comments regarding potential delays can be directed to the NNTC DCC at nntc@emmes.com. We thank everyone for their continued understanding during this challenging event.
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 February 17, 2023, 3,325 participants have enrolled into the clinical evaluation/tissue donation program. Note this number excludes cases with limited characterization. 2,303 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 February 17, 2023, 229 participants have been classified as virally suppressed according to the criteria listed here. These participants include 77 with CNS specimens and other autopsy specimens collected.
Please refer to our SUPPRESSION COHORT REPORTS PowerPoint presentation for more complete details.
