3-D map of how the brain changes with age
Project 1: 3-D Molecular atlas of the aging brain
Researchers are creating a detailed three-dimensional map of how brain cells and gene activity change from age 20 to 90 to help explain why some brain areas become vulnerable to Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180250 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be helping build a 3-D molecular atlas that shows how different brain cell types and their gene activity change across adulthood. The team will use donated brain tissue from people with minimal or no brain disease and focus on three regions that are often affected in later-life brain disease. They will combine high-resolution protein imaging (4i) with spatial gene-mapping (10x Visium) to place molecular signals into their exact location in brain tissue. The goal is to define what ‘‘normal’’ aging looks like so future departures from that pattern can point to early disease processes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults across the age range (about 20–90) who can participate in brain donation programs or otherwise provide tissue with little to no neurological disease.
Not a fit: People with advanced Alzheimer's or extensive existing brain pathology are less likely to benefit directly from this project, since it focuses on normal aging signatures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this atlas could reveal early molecular changes that lead to Alzheimer's and point to new targets for earlier diagnosis or treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Related spatial and transcriptomic brain atlases have produced useful insights, but a focused 3-D aging atlas of these vulnerable regions is relatively new and builds on emerging methods.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Phatnani, Hemali — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Phatnani, Hemali
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.