High-throughput mapping of brain circuits using MAPseq and BARseq for autism research
Official title: Dissemination of MAPseq and BARseq for High-Throughput Brain Mapping
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11393319 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new set of fast, DNA-sequencing–based tools helps scientists map brain wiring in animals to better understand conditions like autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $929,890 |
| NIH project number | 5U24NS126938-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393319 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; however, findings from animal models of autism could inform future human research and therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not expected from this outreach and tool-distribution grant.
What this research studies
This project aims to share MAPseq and BARseq methods with the neuroscience community, so researchers can map which brain cells connect to other regions using sequencing. By turning neural connections into DNA data, these tools offer a scalable way to study brain circuits involved in autism and related disorders. The work will include documentation, training materials, and outreach to labs that want to adopt the methods in animal models. Researchers hope to illuminate how connectivity changes relate to autistic-like behaviors and neuropsychiatric conditions. This dissemination could accelerate discoveries by making advanced circuit mapping more accessible to many labs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, researchers will gain a powerful, scalable way to study brain networks relevant to autism, potentially speeding discoveries tied to brain connectivity and function.
How similar studies have gone: MAPseq/BARseq have shown promise in generating detailed neuronal projection maps in prior work, and this project focuses on broad dissemination rather than new discovery.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zador, Anthony M — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Zador, Anthony M
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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.