The Central Denmark Region is postponing the decision about what to do with the world's biggest collection of brains.

2017.12.14 | Henriette Stevnhøj

The deadline for what should be done with the 9,479 psychiatric brains in the basement of the Psychiatric Hospital has now been postponed. Model Photo: Lars Kruse/AU.

The turn of the year was supposed to be when the decision about what should be done with the 9,479 psychiatric brains in buckets of formalin currently standing in the basement of the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov, Aarhus was to be taken. The collection of brains is not included in the psychiatric departments move to the new mega-hospital. But finalising all the legal details for a possible transfer or destruction of the collection is taking some time, so the deadline has now been postponed. 

This is the explanation given by Christian Boel, Head of Corporate Management at the Central Denmark Region, to DR. The region – and formerly the regional council – have legal responsibility under the Danish Health Act. Earlier this year, the regional council decided that the collection would be shut down during the course of 2018 unless a worthy recipient could be found. 

The process of identifying potential research institutions who could be in the market to take over the collection of brains has extended the deadline. In addition, the region must clarify how the collection can be destroyed if that is what is to happen. This has thrown up a multitude of legal questions, including how to hand over the brains to relatives is they should wish for this, explains Christian Boel.

Can the brains be handed over? 

The Central Denmark Region has also asked Bispebjerg Hospital, which houses the Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, and Odense University Hospital, if they are interested in taking over the collection. Bispebjerg Hospital has not replied, while researchers from Odense visited the collection at the beginning of December. At present, it is unclear whether the institutions are interested and, if they are, indeed are able to do so.
According to the head of corporate management, possible recipients abroad have also been looked at. However, in the region's assessment is not legally realistic to transfer the collection to a foreign research institution.
The decision not to move the collection with the rest of the Psychiatric Hospital when it moves from Risskov to Skejby in 2019 was taken by the Central Denmark Region in consultation with Aarhus University.  

Kristjar Skajaa, head of the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University, has stated in a previous interview that it would cost several million Danish kroner to move and preserve the collection: 

"When we compare the cost to the scientific value, then the conclusion is that its value is not commensurate with the costs. This is not about a department saving money. It is a question of due diligence when it comes to comparing the research value with the considerable costs incurred in connection with moving and maintaining the collection for posterity in the new buildings at Skejby," said Kristjar Skajaa. 

The decision on the future of the brains will now be taken at the end of March 2018.