Developing an integrated brain resource framework for translational neuroscience in Korea Brain Bank

초록

The Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI) and its core facility, the Korea Brain Bank (KBB), are establishing a national framework that integrates human brain banking with digital and multi-omics resources to strengthen translational neuroscience in Korea. Operating under the Brain Research Promotion Act (BRPA) and supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the KBB manages the designated Korean Brain Bank Network (KBBN), a national system that provides centrally coordinated nationwide coverage through eight network hospitals. The network is supported by the KBRI-developed Brain Resource Archive Management System (BRAMS) for integrated management of human brain resources. KBBN enhances interoperability, standardization, and data accessibility across the network. These efforts have led to measurable improvements in data completeness, resource utilization efficiency, and research connectivity. Since its establishment, KBBN has prioritized the collection of brain resources from patients with neurodegenerative disorders, enabling neuropathological assessment and digital dataset construction for integrated analysis. However, securing brain resources for psychiatric disorders remains limited due to sociocultural barriers to donation in Korea. To address this, KBB is expanding international collaboration to develop specialized psychiatric cohorts for joint multi-omics studies. Future strategies focus on increasing functional resource value through single-cell and spatial omics integration, linking postmortem-derived iPSC and organoid models, and establishing an AI-assisted federated data governance system that integrates imaging, genomic, and clinical data within a Brain Atlas Hub. Through the convergence of cellular innovation, digital governance, and global cooperation, KBB seeks to advance responsible and sustainable brain resource management in Korea.

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