Pan-brain expansion imaging for detailed brain maps across the whole brain
Official title: Development of pan-ExM for whole-brain, molecularly annotated connectomics
Funded at Panluminate INC. · NIH-11316438 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, fast, and scalable imaging method called WBExM aims to map the entire mouse brain at molecular detail using a special expansion technique and light-based imaging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Panluminate INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $454,646 |
| NIH project number | 1R43MH143449-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11316438 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment in this phase; the work is methodological and uses animal tissue models.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation at this stage; the grant focuses on technology development.
What this research studies
This grant funds the development of a whole-organ expansion imaging workflow to visualize brain structure and molecular markers across the entire mouse brain. By expanding tissue and applying broad and targeted stains, researchers hope to see fine neural connections and molecular signatures with high clarity using optical methods. The project focuses on creating a reproducible protocol for sample preparation, imaging, and data analysis that can scale beyond single brain slices. The goal is a cost-effective, fully optical alternative to electron microscopy for dense connectomics. This Phase I work will validate the workflow and establish benchmarks for accuracy and throughput.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable researchers and clinicians to map brain circuits and molecular features more quickly and affordably, advancing understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous expansion and CLEM methods exist, but WBExM aims to combine whole-brain scope with molecular labeling in a scalable, optical workflow.
Where this research is happening
-
Panluminate INC.
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: M'saad, Ons — Panluminate INC.
- Study coordinator: M'saad, Ons
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.