World's First Comprehensive 3D Brainstem Atlas Unveiled by IIT Madras

IIT Madras has launched a detailed 3D atlas, ANCHOR, mapping the human brainstem. Developed by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, it covers neurochemical structures from prenatal to adult brains. The atlas aims to aid global neuroscientific research and is accessible to researchers worldwide.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has rolled out an unprecedented 3D brainstem atlas described as the most comprehensive of its kind in the world. Dubbed ANCHOR, this atlas is a product of the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre and offers extensive multi-modal 3D maps of the human brainstem.

This groundbreaking initiative employs over 200 brainstem nuclei and fiber tracts derived from hundreds of sections, with eight immunostains providing intricate cellular mapping. These resources are freely accessible online for researchers and healthcare professionals globally, marking a significant advance in neurobiology.

The launch coincided with the 3rd BRICS Neuroscience Symposium and was attended by prominent figures, including Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood and Kris Gopalakrishnan. This milestone, integrating MRI, histology, and chemo-architecture, exemplifies India’s commitment to pioneering research in human brain sciences.