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Royal visit Netherlands Brain Bank
On Tuesday June 3rd 2008 her Royal Highness Princess Máxima visited the MS-centre located at the VU Medical Centre and the Netherlands Brain Bank (NBB). The unique collaboration between the MS-centre and the NBB is financially supported by the Stichting MS Research located in Voorschoten. 


The guests listen attentively to Dr. Inge Huitinga, who explains the methodology and value of brain donation in a fascinating way. Prof. Dr. Dick Swaab, 4th from the left, established the NBB in 1985.

At first the Princess visited the VUmc MS Centre in Amsterdam. She was informed by persons involved and also by researchers about Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is a disease of the central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord. MS is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, leading to demyelination. It may cause numerous physical and mental symptoms, and often progresses to physical and cognitive disability. In The Netherlands almost 16.000 mainly young people suffer from MS.

Subsequently the Princess visited the Netherlands Brain Bank. She was informed by Dr. Inge Huitinga, head of the NBB, about the value of brain donation.  The NBB has a prominent place in the world as a brain bank because of the unique procedure of “fast autopsies”.  Within 2 to 6 hours the deceased person is brought into the VU Medical Centre. Upon arrival, the autopsy team is ready to perform the autopsy. Because of this fast procedure, the NBB obtains high-quality tissue, which is supplied to researchers all over the world. Besides head of the brain bank, Dr. Inge Huitinga is also team leader of the Neuroimmunology research group in the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, which focuses on the molecular and cellular factors underlying MS.		  

Princess Máxima looks at a paraffin block which contains a piece of brain tissue that has been embedded in paraffin for fixation.

Michiel explains that you can cut these paraffin blocks into very thin slices. These so-called ‘sections’ can be examined under the microscope to determine the neuropathological diagnosis.

Princess Máxima is looking at MS lesions under the 5-headed microscope. From the left: Rosa Douw, who’s mother suffered from MS, Dr. Inge Huitinga and Mrs. Dorinda Roos, managing director of the Stichting MS Research.