Oxford
Neurosurgery
NHS
Oxford University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
TESSA JOWELL
BR
IN
M
TRIX
UNIVERSITY OF
OXFORD
FACULTY OF
LAW
The Challenge.
UK brain research continues to rely heavily on post-mortem tissue from late-stage disease, with over 90% of research potential lost to inefficiencies that limit progress and slow
the adoption of advanced technologies.
To truly benefit patients, researchers and biotechnology companies need greater access to high-quality living tissue samples and tailored protocols for their preservation and use.
We are building the missing link
Brain BioLink aims to become a digital and operational infrastructure that enables access to living human brain tissue, supporting researchers, healthcare providers and biotechnology companies to accelerate discovery, validate new technologies and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
From Post Mortem
to Living Tissue
From Discarded
to Discovery
From Paper Complexity
to Digital Simplicity
From Too Late or Never
to Just-in-Time
From Barriers
to Breakthroughs
From Disconnected Data
to Integrated Evidence
From One-off Studies
to Longitudinal Research
From Local Collections
to National Infrastructure
Connected Research
By uniting consent, tissue, and data into one system, we accelerate research, reduce waste, and unlock breakthroughs that were previously impossible.
10x more
Data per Donated Brain
5 min
for Digital Consent
2-5mm3
of Tissue Enough for Breakthrough
One
One Tissue Source. Multiple Diseases
70%
Faster Path to Useable Data
Our Progress Stands on Four Pillars
Reimagining Patient Consent
We are building a digital-first, ethically grounded, and clinically integrated consent pipeline that works for everyone involved: patients, clinicians, and researchers.
Learn more
Collaborating with Longitudinal Cohorts
A sample gains value through context — we will collaborate with cohorts and databases sharing consented data and samples.
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Bringing Live Tissue Research to Life
We’re developing protocols to preserve brain tissue in a living state, ready for advanced research.
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Integrating and Visualising Data
After collecting consent, preserving samples, and completing analysis, insights will be integrated into an interactive format accessible to researchers, clinicians, and the public.
Learn more
Get Involved
Stay in touch with Brain BioLink — reach out to explore partnerships, updates, or ways to collaborate.
Contact us
Transforming nervous tissue research through innovation.
Meet Brain BioLink — the integrated national ecosystem
transforming translational neuroscience research led by the University of Oxford.
Our Team
Brain BioLink creates new partnerships across academia, industry, and healthcare. We unite a diverse coalition of brilliant minds who’ve never collaborated before, driven by a shared vision to advance neuroscience research for the nation.
Meet the team
