Dr Andrew Robinson gained his PhD from The University of Manchester in 2016. His research interests are primarily based in the neuropathology of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, he focuses on the relationships between subtle cognitive change in life and severity of pathology found at death. Identification of relevant changes in cognition can lead to advances in the early detection of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Spotting ‘at risk’ individuals may mean that they could be targeted for meaningful interventions long before their level of cognitive change brings them to the attention of medical practice. This could have a potential influence on the trajectory of their disease.

Dr Robinson is the manager of Manchester Brain Bank. Established in 1986 by Professor David Mann, the Brain Bank has underpinned much of the basic and clinical research into the spectrum of frontotemporal dementia that Manchester has pioneered over the last 30 years. The current director of Manchester Brain Bank is Professor Federico Roncaroli.

The Brain Bank is part of the UK Brain Banks Network and uses dissection protocols established by the BrainNet Europe consortium. We work closely with many of the neuroscience and mental health research themes at The University of Manchester, including neuro oncology.

The Brain Bank contains around 1,000 brains from patients with various neurodegenerative disorders and from healthy, but elderly, controls. Most brains have formalin-fixed and frozen tissue available for use in approved research.

If you wish to discuss access to brain tissue for your research, please contact me via email.