Collection and Characterisation of Human Olfactory Ensheathing Cells

We aim to retrieve olfactory bulbs (OBs) from suitable human donors. We have defined two groups who will qualify: Group 1 - Deceased Donors: 1A: Donors after brainstem death (DBDs) undergoing solid organ donation 1B: Donors after brainstem death (DBDs) considered unsuitable for solid organ donation Group 2 - Living Donors: Neurosurgical patients undergoing anterior cranial surgery in which the olfactory nerve (ON) is cut as part of the surgical procedure. The OB of the concomitant severed ON would be donated. We aim to optimise OB collection and Olfactory Ensheathing Cell (OEC) culture and storage. We will study the effects of patient diagnosis, age, cause of death (if applicable), co-morbidities and warm ischaemic time on cell survival and regenerative function. In future studies we aim to store OECs in a GMP facility and transplant OECs into patients with spinal cord injuries.