BANK OF DNA AND NERVE-MUSCLE TISSUES

The Bank is part of the "Service for Neuromuscular Diagnosis and Research" of Istituto di Clinica Neurologica, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan. The Service has been operative for 25 years and consists of 4 different laboratories (morphology, biochemistry, genetics, tissue cultures) with two specifically equipped storage rooms, all related to a Department for the clinical evaluation of patients and their follow-up. All specimens - obtained after informed consent from patients affected with neuromuscular disorders - are studied step by step from the basic routine examination to the final genetic diagnosis. The Bank includes 2253 muscle and 282 nerve specimens for morphological studies, 4127 muscle specimens for biochemical studies, 2245 DNA samples and 1561 samples for tissue cultures. All data are collected through an informatic system which keeps all the information regarding each specimen separated from the patients’ name, in respect to the patients’ privacy. Our specific web site www.centrodinoferrari.com/neuromuscolari.htm can be contacted to get all the information regarding the Bank: List of tissues and diseases, aims and purposes, collaborators, modalities for Bank access. Several Italian and one foreign hospitals signed a legal agreement allowing us to study and store their specimens. The existence of selected banks for neuromuscular samples allows the collection of a consistent number of specimens per single disease and therefore examination of the same by experienced people for both research and diagnostic purposes. In order to know more about the causes of unknown genetic diseases, all samples and data are available to the scientific community for both research and diagnostic purposes, according to the Telethon rules. In this regard, we are currently collaborating with both Italian and foreign groups.