First Australian Veterans' Brain Bank announced in NSW

A research project launched in January will use the brains of deceased veterans to help with diagnosis and treatment of brain disease, in a first for Australia. 

A NSW Government initiative, the Australian Veterans' Brain Bank is a collaboration between Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's Neuropathology Department and the National Centre for Veterans' Healthcare based at Concord Hospital in Sydney.

It will focus on understanding the long-term effects on the brain for soldiers who have been exposed to multiple blast injuries and head knocks throughout their careers. This includes the impact of improvised explosive devices and artillery or rockets, together with other causes such as training and participation in sporting activities.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Brain Bank will provide more accurate diagnoses for loved ones of late veterans who have pledged their brains to research. It will also improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain disease during life.

Learning about the impacts of brain trauma and injury will increase awareness of the potential impacts of blast injuries. It will also be invaluable for healthcare workers when supporting veterans in the future.

Damien Thomlinson is one of the first Australian veterans to pledge his brain to the Australian Veterans’ Brain Bank. He was severely injured in Afghanistan through a blast injury after serving for eight years in the Australian Special Forces.

‘[I’m happy] to donate my brain so that we can see what the impact of being so close to a large explosion is,’ he said. ‘And hopefully we can connect the dots in the future and make sure that other people are prepared for the damage that may be caused, and we can also isolate ways to treat and prevent injury moving forward.’

Commissioner Gwen Cherne, Veteran Family Advocate praised the new initiative. ‘This is a welcome and much-awaited initiative for the Australian Defence Force, the broader veteran community and so many families who are looking for solutions to better support veterans living with seemingly invisible and little-understood scars,’ she said.

For more information or to register for brain donation, please visit the Veterans' Brain Bank website.