A landmark collaboration in pediatric neurobiobank development
COMBINEDBrain and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) announced a strategic partnership to establish a cutting-edge biorepository focused on pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tissue and biofluids. Led by MUSC’s Dr. Ramin Eskandari and COMBINEDBrain’s Dr. Anna Pfalzer, the initiative aims to accelerate translational neuroscience, helping drug developers identify biomarkers and expedite therapeutic development for pediatric neurological diseases.
What the biorepository will contain
The biorepository will house high-quality, well-characterized human samples, including brain, bone and other soft tissues, as well as biofluids such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Importantly, these samples will come from pediatric patients and will include specimens from individuals not diagnosed with genetic or neurological disease, creating a valuable control population. All samples are collected under standardized protocols to preserve tissue integrity and the contents of biofluids for downstream analyses.
Accessibility and global impact
Unlike many existing biobanks, this repository prioritizes pediatric specimens and controls, addressing a critical gap in neurological research. The repository will be accessible to the international research community, supporting scientists, academic groups, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms in their biomarker discovery efforts and therapeutic development pipelines. Detailed information about the collection and catalog, including a complete CNS Repository catalog, is available online at the COMBINEDBrain website.
How the biorepository advances drug development
By providing a diverse, high-quality collection of CNS tissues and biofluids, the initiative supports the entire drug development lifecycle—from early-stage research and preclinical studies to clinical validation. A core aim is to accelerate biomarker discovery, enabling earlier and more precise diagnostic tools and more targeted therapies. In neurodegenerative and other pediatric CNS diseases, reliable biomarkers can illuminate disease progression, monitor treatment response, and guide personalized treatment decisions.
Quotes from leadership
Dr. Ramin Eskandari, Chief of the Department of Neurosurgery at MUSC, noted that the biorepository is a “game-changer” for both academia and industry. “By making these rare and invaluable samples available, we pave the way for more efficient research and drug development, uncovering novel biomarkers and facilitating targeted treatments that can transform patient outcomes.”
Dr. Anna Pfalzer, Chief Scientific Officer of COMBINEDBrain, emphasized the unmet need for control samples from children without rare neurological disorders. “Samples from control participants—children unaffected by rare neurological disorders—are a massive unmet need, and this collaboration directly addresses that gap.”
Global collaboration and the future of neuroscience research
The COMBINEDBrain–MUSC partnership represents a significant step in global neuroscience research. By combining resources, expertise, and infrastructure, the collaboration creates a robust platform for researchers, clinicians, and drug developers worldwide. The biorepository stands to reduce development timelines, improve diagnostic capabilities, and enhance the precision of therapies for pediatric CNS diseases, ultimately benefiting millions of patients and families around the world.
