Modi Launches Mission to Map 100 Human Brains
Modi also released C-Stroke, described as a first-of-its-kind human ischaemic stroke atlas
Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) to the nation, launched a global mission to map more than 100 human brains at cellular resolution and released a specialised atlas of stroke-affected brain tissue, marking a major expansion of the institute’s neuroscience research programme.
The initiative aims to build detailed three-dimensional maps of the human brain across the lifespan, from the foetal stage to old age, providing researchers with insights into its cellular architecture and potentially advancing investigations into neurological disorders.
Modi also released C-Stroke, described as a first-of-its-kind human ischaemic stroke atlas. Containing more than 1,000 annotated microscopic sections from a stroke-affected brain, the resource is expected to help researchers examine tissue damage, identify potential therapeutic targets and improve understanding of the condition.
Ischaemic stroke occurs when a blood clot or other blockage interrupts blood supply to part of the brain, causing damage to brain tissue. The atlas offers researchers a detailed anatomical resource to investigate the changes associated with the condition and explore potential avenues for treatment.
Established in March 2022 with support from philanthropists Sudha and Kris Gopalakrishnan, the centre combines neuroscience, engineering, advanced imaging and computational science to study the human brain at cellular resolution.
Its researchers use whole brain imaging technologies to examine large volumes of tissue, reconstructing cellular structures in three dimensions. The resulting datasets enable scientists to move between whole brain anatomy and microscopic details, creating resources for collaborative research across institutions.
The latest initiative seeks to expand this work into a collection of more than 100 whole human brain maps representing different stages of life and a range of neurological conditions. The resulting atlases are intended to support international research into brain development, disease mechanisms and neurological disorders.
The centre has already released two major research resources. In 2024, it unveiled Dharani, a three-dimensional atlas of the human foetal brain, comprising digital images of 5,132 brain sections.
In June 2026, it released Anchor (Atlas of Neurochemical Characterization of the Human Brainstem with 3D Reconstruction), a three-dimensional atlas mapping more than 200 brainstem nuclei and fibre tracts.
The brainstem connects the brain with the spinal cord and plays a central role in essential functions, including breathing, heart rate and consciousness. Despite its importance, detailed cellular and neurochemical mapping of the region remains challenging.
Anchor was developed using more than 800 serial histological sections from three human brain specimens representing different developmental stages: a 25-week gestational foetus, a nine-year-old child and a 54-year-old adult.
Researchers employed eight complementary immunostaining techniques across more than 500 sections to identify distinct neurochemical cell types. They manually annotated more than 200 brainstem structures and reconstructed them in three dimensions.
The atlas also features an integrated visualisation platform that allows researchers to navigate between MRI scans, block-face images, microscopic tissue sections and three-dimensional reconstructions, linking large-scale anatomical features with cellular-level details.
The centre’s work brings together researchers, engineers and technicians from multiple disciplines, along with international collaborators. Its broader research programme includes studying brains affected by neurological conditions such as rabies, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to understand how these disorders alter brain structure.
According to Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, head of the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, the centre aims to build a comprehensive collection of cellular resolution brain maps spanning the human lifespan and a wide range of neurological conditions.
Anchor was formally released at the third Brics Neuroscience Symposium 2026, held at IIT-M from June 5 to 7. Christian Medical College, Vellore, Kilpauk Medical College, MediScan Systems and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research were among the institutions that supported the project by facilitating the acquisition of brain specimens from individuals across different age groups and neurological profiles.
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