Detailed multiomic map of human brain cells and where they sit
Center for Multiomic Human Brain Cell Atlas
This project maps many different types of cells across dozens of regions of the adult human brain using multiple molecular and spatial techniques to help researchers better understand brain health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136235 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a single-cell, multiomic atlas of the adult human brain by profiling gene expression, open chromatin, and DNA methylation from samples across 100 anatomical regions. They combine these molecular profiles with spatial mapping so each cell type can be placed back into its exact location in the tissue. Much of the work uses post-mortem human brain tissue and partner brain banks to build a detailed reference of cell types and their regulatory DNA. That reference will help scientists compare patient samples to normal cell maps and guide future diagnostic or therapeutic research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults (21+) who can donate brain tissue after death or families/representatives who can consent to brain autopsy and tissue donation.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate medical treatment or living patients expecting direct therapeutic benefit are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this atlas could reveal the exact cell types and molecular switches involved in brain disorders and support development of better diagnostics and targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell and spatial mapping projects in mouse and human tissues have produced useful reference maps, but this effort is novel in its multiomic scope and coverage of many human brain regions.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, UNITED STATES
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ecker, Joseph R — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Ecker, Joseph R
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.