Atlas of how genes and chromosome structure shape the developing human brain
Spatiotemporal epigenomic and chromosomal architectural cell atlas of developing human brains
['FUNDING_U01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11131141
This project maps when and where different brain cell types and gene-control features appear during human development to help link genetic risk to conditions like autism.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11131141 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze developing human brain tissues using single-cell methods that measure DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and 3D chromosomal contacts to identify cell types and regulatory interactions. They will combine these molecular data with spatial RNA mapping using multiplexed in situ hybridization and digital spatial profiling to show where those cells sit in the brain. The team will integrate multiple data types to connect genetic variants tied to neuropsychiatric conditions with the specific genes and cell types they affect. The final product will be a publicly available atlas resource to help scientists and clinicians study brain development and disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal contributors would be donors or donor families able to provide access to human brain tissue across developmental stages, including samples from individuals with and without autism.
Not a fit: This project does not offer clinical treatment or direct care, so people seeking immediate medical benefit are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this atlas could reveal which cell types and gene-regulatory mechanisms are altered in autism, guiding future diagnostic markers and targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell and spatial transcriptomic atlases have successfully identified cell types and disease links, but combining single-nucleus 3D chromatin profiling with joint methylation–transcriptome spatial mapping across development is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LUO, CHONGYUAN — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: LUO, CHONGYUAN
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.
Conditions: Autistic Disorder