AI for Understanding Brain Connections
Official title: Next generation axonal quantification and classification using AI
Funded at Microbrightfield, LLC · NIH-11093531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating new software that uses artificial intelligence to better see and measure the tiny connections in the brain, helping scientists understand brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Microbrightfield, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Williston, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $850,143 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MH128076-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
While this project does not directly involve patient participation, future patients with neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders could benefit from the advanced research enabled by this tool.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have conditions related to brain connectivity or neurological disorders may not directly benefit from the insights gained through this specific software development.
What this research studies
This project is developing advanced software called HyperAxon™ that uses artificial intelligence to analyze detailed images of brain tissue. This software can automatically identify, trace, and measure all the nerve fibers, or axons, in two- and three-dimensional microscope pictures, even in very dense areas. By doing this, researchers can get a much clearer picture of how brain connections are organized and how they might be affected by injury or disease. This improved analysis will help scientists learn more about conditions affecting the brain and nervous system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This technology could help researchers gain deeper insights into how brain connections change in various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, potentially leading to new ways to understand and treat these conditions.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds upon existing lab-built technology from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, extending it with new deep neural networks, representing a novel advancement in automated axonal analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Microbrightfield, LLC
Williston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Glaser, Jacob R — Microbrightfield, LLC
- Study coordinator: Glaser, Jacob R
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Automated analysis of axonal fibers in the brain using advanced software
This study is testing a new software called HyperAxon™ that helps scientists look at brain tissue more closely by automatically mapping the tiny nerve fibers, which could help us understand brain connections and changes in conditions like neurological disorders.
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.