The brain tumor cells are grown as neurospheres or as attached cultures on laminin. There are several glioblastomas, one DIPG and one MB growing as neurospheres. These cultures have been quality control tested and found free of mycoplasma, bacteria and fungi contamination. Phenotypic verification has been done by H&E evaluation and currently short tandem repeat cell line authentication matching the cell cultures to the original tumor is being done.

Also available are viable brain tumor tissue and early growth neurospheres which have not gone through quality control and which have not proliferated or thrived after passaging in our lab but may be of use for xenograft, cell sorting, or other research.

For a list of currently available specimens, or to request a specific specimen, contact Bethany Watson.  Please complete the attached Statement of Research Intent form if requesting a specimen.

The development of the brain tumor biorepository has been made possible through the support of Ian’s Friends Foundation and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

When presenting or publishing work which utilizes these brain tumor biospecimens and cell cultures include this statement in the acknowledgements:

Biospecimens (and/or derivatives or associated data) were provided by the Ian’s Friends Foundation Brain Tumor Biorepository at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.