High-resolution cell maps of developing human and primate brains
A Multidisciplinary Center for Developing Human and Non-human Primate Brain Cell Atlases
This project will create detailed maps of brain cell types and where they sit during prenatal to adolescent development to help researchers better understand childhood brain conditions like autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173817 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about a project that builds very detailed maps of the developing human brain and comparable primate brains by looking at individual cell activity and which genes are accessible in each cell. The team will analyze tissue from many brain regions at four stages (mid-gestation, newborn, childhood, and adolescence) and use spatial methods to show where different cell types live. They will combine high-resolution MRI maps with molecular data to make a common framework that links anatomy to cell types across species. The atlases will be validated with probe-based methods so the cell maps match real tissue patterns.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be individuals or families able to donate developing human brain tissue (prenatal, neonatal, childhood, or adolescent) or provide linked clinical information for donated samples.
Not a fit: People seeking direct treatments or clinical care now are unlikely to benefit immediately, since this project creates maps and data rather than testing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the atlases could reveal specific cell types and developmental steps involved in brain disorders, guiding future diagnostics and treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior single-cell and spatial brain atlas projects have successfully mapped adult human and model-organism brains, but a comprehensive cross-species atlas focused on developing human and non-human primate brains is novel.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kriegstein, Arnold — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Kriegstein, Arnold
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.