A continuous map of the developing brain from birth to age 10
Continuous longitudinal atlas construction for the study of brain development
Researchers will build tools that turn routine MRI scans into clear, age-by-age brain maps to better understand how babies and young children’s brains grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332417 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will build computer tools that turn routine MRI scans into consistent, age-specific maps of the brain surface from birth through the first ten years. The team will adapt and extend FreeSurfer-compatible pipelines and new algorithms to make accurate spherical representations and detailed structural labels for rapidly changing infant brains. They will use large longitudinal datasets (for example, the Baby Connectome Project and HBCD) to train and test the methods and to describe typical growth patterns. Clinically, the researchers will focus on how early-life adversity may alter brain development to help clarify conflicting findings from past studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are infants and children from birth up to about age 10 whose families are willing to take part in repeated MRI visits or to share existing clinical or research scans.
Not a fit: People older than childhood (beyond age 10) or those seeking immediate treatment for a current neurological problem are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this atlas-building work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these maps and tools could help spot unusual brain development earlier and guide more targeted follow-up or interventions for young children.
How similar studies have performed: Adult brain atlases and some infant imaging projects exist, but continuous longitudinal cortical atlases for early childhood are limited, so this approach is relatively novel and method-focused.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zollei, Lilla — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zollei, Lilla
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.