The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has released what it describes as the world’s most detailed 3D atlas of the human brainstem, marking a significant milestone in neuroscience research and brain mapping.
Developed by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) at IIT Madras, the platform, named ANCHOR (Atlas of Neurochemical Characterisation of the Human Brainstem with 3D Reconstruction), provides the most comprehensive multi-modal, three-dimensional maps of the human brainstem created to date.
Comprehensive brain mapping
ANCHOR comprises detailed brainstem maps spanning the prenatal stage, childhood and adulthood. The atlas includes more than 200 brainstem nuclei and fiber tracts reconstructed from hundreds of serial brain sections.
To identify distinct neurochemical cell types, researchers overlaid eight complementary immunostains across more than 500 sections, enabling highly detailed cellular mapping of the brainstem.
The atlas has been made publicly accessible through a dedicated digital platform, allowing researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals worldwide to utilize the resource for scientific and medical research.
Released at BRICS Neuroscience Symposium
The atlas was unveiled during the 3rd BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026, held from June 5 to June 7 at the IIT Madras campus.
The release took place in the presence of distinguished scientists, researchers and industry leaders, including Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, Infosys Co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and SGBC Head Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam.
The symposium brought together leading neuroscientists, clinicians and academicians from BRICS nations to discuss advancements in brain science and neurotechnology.
Advancing neuroscience research
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood said, “This is a significant accomplishment in the field of neurobiology. This is a multimodal framework integrating MRI, histology and detailed chemo-architecture. It will be the most detailed and comprehensive maps of the human brainstem and made available publicly in digital form. These maps will help in identifying specific cell populations affected in brain stem lesions which could be critical for clinical applications.”
Highlighting the collaborative nature of the initiative, he noted that the project involved support from government agencies, industry, philanthropy and several medical institutions across the country.
Exploring new research frontiers
IIT Madras Director Prof V Kamakoti said, “I always take pride that at IIT Madras we are exploring a lot of things but this particular exploration puts IIT Madras in the frontiers of the most complex creation that this world has witnessed – the human brain. This Centre is also studying brains affected by different diseases like rabies, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. We now have a way by which we can say what happens to the basic structure of the brain due to diseases.”
He added that the development represents an important step toward understanding how neurological diseases alter the structure and function of the human brain.
Global collaboration drives innovation
SGBC has emerged as a global interdisciplinary research centre with more than 200 researchers, engineers and technicians working alongside 20 international collaborators.
The Centre’s long-term objective is to create the most comprehensive collection of cell-resolution human brain maps covering different stages of life and neurological disorders.
Enabling future discoveries
IIT Madras Head, Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam said, “The key technology platform that makes these atlases widely accessible is our multi-modal image visualization framework that seamlessly integrates macro-scale volumetric data with micro-scale cellular images. By establishing precise spatial correspondence across these modalities, the atlas enables a seamless transition from gross brain structures in the MRI to cellular-level features.”
He added that the atlas is expected to have far-reaching implications for neuroscience and neuromedicine as the Centre advances its mission to image more than 100 whole brains across the human lifespan and various neurological diseases.
With the launch of ANCHOR, IIT Madras has strengthened India’s position in advanced brain research, creating a globally accessible scientific resource that could accelerate discoveries in neuroscience, disease diagnosis and clinical treatment.