Allen Human Brain Atlas

The Allen Institute for Brain Science is developing a multi-modal, multi-resolution human brain atlas—the Allen Human Brain Atlas—comprising spatially mapped gene expression data, histological data and 3D MRI data for adult human brain. The varied data modalities will be integrated into a unified spatial framework based on the volumetric MRI data. The resulting public online resource will enable users to assess gene expression in its anatomic and cytoarchitectural context and connect anatomic and functional information with underlying genomic information.

Two approaches are being used to elucidate gene expression. First, approximately 1,000 distinct brain areas constituting complete anatomic coverage will be sampled from each brain and examined using microarray profiling to provide genome-wide expression information. Second, selected genes of significant interest to the scientific community – for example, genes associated with key neurochemical pathways or diseases – will be more precisely mapped within gross brain structures using in situ hybridization, offering end users a cellular-resolution view of gene expression patterns.

The first data release and launch of the Allen Human Brain Atlas is scheduled for May 2010. This release will offer users an initial, significant microarray data set, associated MRI and histological data from a single adult human brain, along with basic search and visualization tools.

Additional data, including that for other individual brains, as well as more advanced data mining, analysis and visualization tools, will be added over time in subsequent releases.