A detailed cell map of the adult human and primate brain
Official title: Functionally guided adult whole brain cell atlas in human and NHP
Funded at Allen Institute · NIH-11129780 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Building a detailed map of cell types across adult human and primate brains to help people with brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Allen Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $17,262,570 |
| NIH project number | 5UM1MH130981-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129780 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults (21+) who can donate brain tissue after death or people undergoing neurosurgery who agree to donate tissue for research.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking an immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly, since this project is focused on building a research resource rather than providing therapy.
What this research studies
Researchers will use advanced single-cell genomic and chromatin methods (including ATAC-seq) on whole adult human and non-human primate brains to identify distinct cell types and their molecular signatures. They will link these cellular maps to brain anatomy and imaging data to connect cell-level biology with brain circuits and function. The project uses donated human brain tissue and primate samples and compares species to find conserved cell types that are hard to study directly in people. The resulting atlas and data will be shared so other scientists can use it to guide new diagnostics and treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific cell types and molecular targets behind brain disorders, guiding new diagnostics and treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell atlases in mice and in parts of the human brain have produced valuable results, but a whole-brain, functionally linked human and primate atlas is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Allen Institute
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lein, Ed — Allen Institute
- Study coordinator: Lein, Ed
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.