Archive
October 2, 2024
Blogs
Reducing the Stigma of Mental Illness: Mental Illness Awareness Week
As we kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 6 – 12,) we support NAMI’s efforts to eliminate the stigma of mental illness at home, in our communities and in the workplace.
Read moreOctober 2, 2024
Blogs
Traumatic Brain Injuries: An Incomplete Picture
It’s surprising to us that most of the people who report TBI when they make plans to donate their brain are women.
Read moreOctober 2, 2024
Blogs
What Happens After Your Brain Is Donated?
We share the steps that occur after a brain is donated.
Read moreAugust 8, 2024
Blogs
Managing brain donation plans over time
There are certain things those who’ve already registered can do to make sure everything is in place when the time comes. Here are some tips.
Read moreAugust 2, 2024
Blogs
What is a Medical Power of Attorney and why should I consider one?
There are important reasons to make sure you have a medical power of attorney in place.
Read moreJuly 8, 2024
Blogs
Your Brain Holds Secrets. Scientists Want to Find Them.
Many Americans plan to donate their organs for transplants or their bodies for medical science but there is a need for their brains, too.
Read moreJune 21, 2024
Media Coverage
Oldest Man in U.S. Dies at 110 — Now Scientists Will Study His Brain
When he died at age 110, Morrie Markoff was the oldest man in the United States, but that’s not the only reason he was so remarkable. Thanks to his family for donating his brain through The Brain Donor Project, scientists are hoping they can learn what allowed this man to live so long at such a high-functioning level. Read more about Mr. Markoff and his wife, Betty (who lived to be 103!) in this PEOPLE Magazine article.
Read moreJune 17, 2024
Media Coverage
Man who died at 110 was ‘always inquisitive.’
Tish Hevel, CEO of the Brain Donor Project, said that while it’s useful for scientists to study brains of people who’ve suffered from Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, CTE and other neurodegenerative conditions, healthy brains are necessary, too. And Mr. Markoff’s 110-year-old-brain is a tremendous gift to science. Read the USA TODAY article.
Read moreJune 12, 2024
Media Coverage
Morrie Markoff, Listed as Oldest Man in the U.S., Dies at 110
Morrie Markoff, America’s oldest man, was remarkable in many ways. He recently passed away at the age of 110 and his family donated his brain to The Brain Donor Project. Learn more about this extraordinary man and what his contribution might mean to neuroscience. Read the New York Times article.
Read moreJune 10, 2024
Media Coverage
Column: He was the oldest man in the U.S., and his loving caretaker was with him to the end
Morrie Markoff, America’s oldest man, was remarkable in many ways. He recently passed away at the age of 110 and his family donated his brain to The Brain Donor Project. Learn more about this extraordinary man and what his contribution might mean to neuroscience. Read the LA Times article here (firewall) or also on Yahoo!
Read moreJune 7, 2024
Media Coverage
Why You Might Want to Donate Your Brain to Science
So many Americans don’t realize the critical need for donated brain tissue to advance neuroscience research. Learn more about why this resource is needed, how The Brain Donor Project was formed, and why science needs all of us. NextAvenue Article.
Read moreMay 30, 2024
Blogs
Mental Illness and Brain Donation: An Interview with Joshua A. Gordon
The Brain Donor Project recently had the honor of a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Joshua A. Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Since May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to know how the science of severe mental illness is advancing…and we wanted to make sure that brain donation is helping.
Read moreMay 16, 2024
Podcasts and Webinars
Making a Lasting Impact with The Brain Donor Project’s Tish Hevel
Tish Hevel, founder of The Brain Donor Project, speaks with Brain & Life podcast host Dr. Katy Peters about the importance of brain donation.
Read moreApril 2, 2024
Podcasts and Webinars
Discussing the Importance of Brain Donation on The Dr. Pat Show
Tish Hevel and Patroski Lawson, Founder of Black Men in BioTech, speak with Dr. Pat of The Dr. Pat Show about the importance of brain donation.
Read moreApril 2, 2024
Podcasts and Webinars
Diversity in Neuroscience Research with Audrey Adams on Talk! With Audrey
Tish Hevel and Patroski Lawson, Founder of Black Men in BioTech, speak with Audrey Adams, host of the Talk! With Audrey radio show, about the importance of diversity in neuroscience research and brain donation.
Read moreMarch 17, 2024
Media Coverage
Brain Donation with Bridgette Hurt of Real Talk Radio
Tish Hevel and Patroski Lawson, Founder of Black Men inBioTech, speak with Radio host Bridgette Hurt about the importance of brain donation on Real Talk Radio
Read moreMarch 13, 2024
Media Coverage
Promoting Brain Donation with Angie Austin News Radio
Tish Hevel and Patroski Lawson, Founder of Black Men inBioTech, speak with Radio host Angie Austin about the importance of brain donation
Read moreFebruary 7, 2024
Blogs
Honoring Caregivers
Honoring Caregivers on National Caregivers' Day...and always
Read moreFebruary 2, 2024
Media Coverage
These Sisters Help Families Donate Brains to Science
Tish Hevel and sister Annie McManis discuss BDP with Brain & Life magazine.
Read moreJanuary 8, 2024
Media Coverage
Brain Donor Project: Leave a Precious Gift
Tish Hevel and the story behind the Brain Donor Project, featured in Alzheimer's Today magazine.
Read moreNovember 2, 2023
Blogs
Advances in Epilepsy Research
In recognition of June’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Health month, consider these facts about brain donation by a loved one with AD.
Read moreOctober 16, 2023
Media Coverage
Researchers search for people to pre-register donating their brain
Researchers are looking for people who are willing to pre-register donating their brains.
Read moreMarch 29, 2023
Blogs
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
A million or so Americans have PD, and as we’re living longer than ever, it’s prevalence will only increase. Here's what you can do.
Read moreMarch 20, 2023
Podcasts and Webinars
Webinar – Perspectives in FTD Research: Brain Donation – Who, What, When and Why
Brain donation is crucial in advancing the science of FTD. But navigating the donation process can be complicated. How does a person donate their brain, and to whom?
Read moreMarch 13, 2023
Blogs
Brain Awareness Week: Brain Breakthroughs Needed
It’s Brain Awareness Week, as declared by our friends at the Dana Foundation, and a great reason to stop and consider the importance of the single most valuable organ we have.
Read moreMarch 1, 2023
Blogs
Help Us Share Your Story
Do you think your story could help others feel compelled to consider brain donation? If so, please drop us a quick note about the best way to reach you. Thank you for considering sharing your story.
Read moreMarch 1, 2023
Blogs
Spotlight on Rare Disease Week
The last week of February is an important one to us at The Brain Donor Project. It’s Rare Disease Week – when the spotlight is on better ways to diagnose, treat and cure diseases that affect a smaller amount of people.
Read moreFebruary 9, 2023
Podcasts and Webinars
Video: Dementia Action Alliance – Organ Donor Does Not Mean Brain Donor – What You Need to Know
Tish Hevel with host Laurie Scherrer discuss why brain donation is important and how to donate your brain. Signing as an organ donor does not donate your brain. This simple process can help the neurological science field in so many ways.
Read moreNovember 18, 2022
Podcasts and Webinars
Podcast: Coming Home Well – Sgt. Cody Bates: The Importance of his Pledge for Brain Donation
Tish Hevel talks with Sgt. Thomas Cody Bank on his commitment to donate his brain for neuroscience research.
Read moreOctober 6, 2022
Podcasts and Webinars
Podcast: Behind the Service – Semper Fi and America’s Fund on Brain Donation
Tish is joined today by Suzanne Waddingham, a registered nurse with the Semper Fi & America's Fund Visiting Nurse Program, to discuss brain donation.
Read moreSeptember 16, 2022
Podcasts and Webinars
Podcast: Coming Home Well – Gunny’s Warriors: Medical Hardships of War and Importance of Brain Donation
Tish talks with Tim Voss of Gunny's Warriors about his head trauma and medical issues he struggles with from being in service.
Read moreAugust 25, 2022
Podcasts and Webinars
Podcast: Do Good Better – Advancing Science through Brain Donation – The Brain Donor Project
The Brain Donor Project exists to increase brain donation to advance science, leading to the treatment and cure of neurological, neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. They're here to increase awareness for and simplify the process of brain donation.
Read moreAugust 12, 2022
Podcasts and Webinars
Podcast: Coming Home Well – GySgt. Ryan Pieraccini (USMC Retired) Creating His Legacy
Tish Hevel, Founder & CEO of the Brain Donor Project, is joined by Jan and Mike Pieraccini (founders of Gunny’s Warriors) to talk about their son Ryan’s wishes to create his legacy by donating his brain to research.
Read moreJuly 14, 2022
Media Coverage
Science Friday: How SciFri Recruited New Brain Donors for Science
A live Q+A and radio broadcast inspired over 1,000 listeners to pledge their brains to scientific research. Future donors share their motivations and questions about brain donations.
Read moreJune 16, 2022
Blogs
Authority Magazine: Why & How Tish Hevel of the Brain Donor Project is Helping To Change Our World
Tish talks with Yitzi Weiner as part of his series, Social Impact Heroes, for Authority Magazine, about the Brain Donor Project
Read moreMay 9, 2022
Podcasts and Webinars
Podcast: Women & Wills – Donate Your Brain to Science
In this episode of Women & Wills, Tish Hevel, CEO and Founder of the Brain Donor Project, explains why donating brain tissue for basic research is an incredible gift.
Read moreMay 3, 2022
Podcasts and Webinars
Assoc of Migraine Disorders Podcast: Brain Donation? There Are More Benefits Than You Think
Tish Hevel and sister Annie McManis discuss BDP with Brain & Life magazine.
Read moreMay 2, 2022
Blogs
National Brain Donation Awareness Day: 5/7
On April 28, 2022, Congressman Blumenauer and Rep. Fitzpatrick introduced a joint resolution to designate May 7th as Brain Donation Awareness Day. This is a major milestone for us – one that we hope will have a great impact on science.
Read moreApril 14, 2022
Blogs
5 Myths About Brain Donation
If you’re like most people, there are certain things about brain donation that you may think you know. Partly because they may be logical assumptions and partly because it may be a little awkward to discuss. Here are the five biggest issues that come up.
Read moreMarch 18, 2022
Blogs
Congressional Briefing Recap
On Tuesday March 8th, we’ll be making our case that Congress should declare a National Brain Donation Awareness Day to ensure that neuroscientists have what they need to cure brain disease.
Read moreMarch 1, 2022
Blogs
BDP Joins ABC to Deliver Congressional Briefing
On Tuesday March 8th, we’ll be making our case that Congress should declare a National Brain Donation Awareness Day to ensure that neuroscientists have what they need to cure brain disease.
Read moreFebruary 4, 2022
Blogs
Science Friday Webinar (Feb. 1, 2022) Q&A
The Brain Donor Project Founder and CEO Tish Hevel recently participated in a live webinar with Ira Flatow, host of Science Friday. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to answer all the questions that came in via chat, so we’ve compiled and answered them all here.
Read moreFebruary 4, 2022
Media Coverage
Science Friday – Why You Should Donate Your Brain to Science
Ever wonder what happens after you donate your brain to science? If you have a disease or disorder like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, traumatic brain injuries, depression, it can be used to help researchers better understand the condition and potentially lead to new treatments.
Read moreJune 24, 2021
Blogs
Cheers to The RLS Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association
The Restless Legs Foundation is laser focused on advancing the science of that disease. We shared a presentation about brain donation with the organization and about 85 members of its community back in March.
Read moreJune 24, 2021
Blogs
Science Can’t Thank You Enough…
When we get a chance to talk with these future donors, the sentiment is nearly universal – if it saves one family from suffering with the terrible disease that’s impacting their own family, people are happy to do it.
Read moreJune 7, 2021
Blogs
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
An aging parent presents certain complications in every family. And when that person begins forgetting details, repeating the same questions, or having trouble with simple tasks, a frightening question begins to emerge. When is it normal signs of aging and when is it dementia?
Read moreApril 30, 2021
Blogs
Someone you care about is struggling with mental illness – and science needs answers
With one in five people suffering from some kind of mental health issue, the answers for how to prevent, treat and cure these disorders simply cannot come fast enough. Add in the stressors of the past year, and it’s easy to see how critically help is needed. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re […]
Read moreAugust 26, 2020
Blogs
What the Pandemic is Shouting at Us
Among the things that COVID has slapped us in the face about is the flat-out necessity of solid medical research and its power to keep our planet spinning the way it’s supposed to. What can you do about it? How do you feel about an easy action that nearly everyone can take to provide a precious resource for medical research?
Read moreNovember 6, 2019
Blogs
Lessons From a Boy and his Monkey
A year ago at this time a yellow magazine cover bearing the photo of a little boy with a monkey on his head suddenly appeared and made one heck of a mark on The Brain Donor Project.
Read moreOctober 15, 2019
Blogs
They’re the reason we’re in the science of supporting science
Ever feel like you need your faith in humanity restored? Wondering what brilliance is percolating in the minds of our youth? Desperately hoping that intelligent people will discover medical breakthroughs to solve the leading cause of disability in the U.S?
Read moreOctober 8, 2019
Blogs
A Salute To Those Whose Brains Are Going Places
Three years ago, in October of 2016, The Brain Donor Project began operating to make sure people know about the critical need for people to donate their brains to neuroscience when they die.
Read moreNovember 2, 2018
Blogs, Donor Stories
An Unexpected Positive
Kathy McKenzie said a final goodbye to her husband Michael on December 5, 2017. She had taken care of him as he suffered through Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia for more than ten years.
Read moreOctober 10, 2018
Media Coverage
National Geographic Magazine: More Brains Make Research Possible
National Geographic Magazine highlights the critical need for post-mortem human brain tissue to advance neuroscience research.
Read moreMarch 9, 2018
Blogs
Scientists Identify Urgent Need For PD Brain Donation
It’s no secret that scientists these days are coming at Parkinson’s Disease with everything they have—including enhanced brain imaging technologies, advancements in the search for biomarkers and a better understanding of the role played by alpha-synuclein.
Read moreJune 26, 2017
Blogs
When Show and Tell Gets Real
I owe a lot to someone I’ve never met. He’s gone now…but he lived to be 101 years old and was said to be very astute up until the time he died. His brain turned out to be slightly larger and showing fewer signs of deterioration than a typical person his age, and there’s probably […]
Read moreApril 24, 2017
Blogs
Hellooooooo Wyoming!
Here we are six months into folks signing up to donate their brains when they die through the Brain Donor Project – and the results have been pretty phenomenal: We’ve heard from people who suffer from 40 different categories of neurological diseases and disorders. Those with autism, essential tremor, dementia, mental illness, ME/CFS, epilepsy, ataxia, […]
Read moreMarch 16, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
“It’s taught me a new level of compassion”
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 15, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
A Career of Caring Leads to a Love of Research
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 14, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
“Please seriously consider it—you don’t need it anymore”
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 13, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
“I knew things were going to end badly—I just didn’t know how”
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 2, 2017
Blogs
Help Solve this Critical Conundrum
Try this one on for size – one day you wake up exhausted after a full night’s sleep, notice a few more aches and pains than normal, and mentally things are just not clicking. Over time, it doesn’t get any better. There are headaches, some severe ones, and an on-and-off sore throat. Could be a […]
Read moreJanuary 24, 2017
Blogs
They’re Just Like Us
So we’re off to a strong start at The Brain Donor Project – in 2016, brain donors across the age spectrum signed up in cities all across the country. They represent a number of the most pervasive brain diseases…and some that aren’t. This is great news. It’s critical for scientific investigations that the supply of brain […]
Read moreDecember 13, 2016
Blogs
Collaborating For Cures
President Obama this week signed the long-awaited the 21st Century Cures Act into law. It’s a $6.3 billion dollar piece of legislation that was recently passed by both the House and Senate after two years of revisions and some very heavy lobbying. It will fund some key priorities including the President’s Brain Research through Advancing […]
Read moreNovember 15, 2016
Blogs, Donor Stories
I’m Doing it For Her
The following post was written by a father who chooses to remain anonymous. His decision to donate his brain was inspired by his daughter who had to wait way too long for a diagnosis. Neurological research using donated brain tissue will make a difference. From an early age my daughter was unique. She showed her […]
Read moreNovember 2, 2016
Blogs
Why Football Makes Me Sad
I’m starting to feel bad about football. Ever since my brothers and my dad helped me begin to understand the game, I’ve loved watching football. Tried to learn more and more so I could appreciate the nuances – I still ask probably too many questions between plays – but I truly enjoy hangin’ with the […]
Read moreOctober 3, 2016
Blogs
5 Reasons
Human post-mortem brain donation is getting more attention as professional football players and racecar drivers make public their decisions to donate, to find answers about the long-term effects of brain injury. They’re not the only ones whose brains have value for researchers. Here are five solid reasons you may not know about, for anyone to […]
Read moreOctober 3, 2016
Blogs
Something Good
There are certain words we say to each other to try and provide some comfort when a loved one dies. They’ve become pretty cliché, actually. Please accept my condolences. At least he or she is not suffering anymore. He or she is in a better place. That last one really tripped up my dad when […]
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