Automated tools to map brain wiring
BRAIN CONNECTS: A Scalable Automated Proofreading Framework for Connectomics
This project builds computer programs that find and fix errors in ultra-detailed brain wiring maps so researchers can study brain function and neurological disease more quickly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160506 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will develop software that automatically detects and corrects mistakes in synapse-level maps of how neurons connect, called connectomes. The team works from high-resolution electron microscope images and existing automated segmentations from mouse and human cortex datasets. Because current automated methods still require many hours of human proofreading, they will extend tools developed during the MICrONS program to scale up automated correction. By cutting down manual proofreading time, the project aims to let researchers produce much larger, more accurate connectomes for studies of brain function, injury, and disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not directly enroll patients but may involve use of previously collected human brain imaging data or donated postmortem human brain tissue handled by research teams.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments should not expect direct or immediate personal health benefits from this computational and imaging-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Faster, cheaper, and more accurate brain wiring maps could reveal mechanisms of neurological disease and point to new treatment paths.
How similar studies have performed: Prior efforts such as MICrONS produced large brain-wiring datasets and semi-automated segmentation tools, but fully scalable automated proofreading is still largely unproven and is the novel focus here.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rivlin, Patricia K — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Rivlin, Patricia K
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.