3D brain blood vessel mapping and analysis for dementia research
CRCNS: TopoVess: A Topology-Infomred Vasculature Analysis Platform for Neuroscience
This project develops better computer tools to map and analyze 3D brain blood vessels to help researchers studying Alzheimer's, stroke, and related brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11241128 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will build new computer algorithms that use detailed 3D images of brain blood vessels to capture their realistic shapes and connections. They will work with high-resolution, cleared-tissue images (mainly from mouse brains) and design topology-informed methods to reduce common mapping errors. The team plans to make the tools robust across different imaging types and experimental setups so results are more reliable. Over time, these improved maps aim to help scientists link blood-vessel changes to conditions like Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients; it focuses on mouse brain imaging and computational method development, so there are no patient eligibility requirements.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate clinical treatments or direct therapeutic benefit are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help scientists detect vascular changes earlier and speed development of treatments for Alzheimer's and other brain disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Existing 3D vessel-mapping methods can work on specific datasets but often make topological errors and fail to generalize, and this topology-informed approach is relatively new and aims to improve on those limitations.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Chao — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Chen, Chao
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.