Brain Mapping Working Group

The IBI Working Group on Mesoscopic Mapping of Non-human Primate Brain (MNPB) aims to develop international collaboration for mapping the cell types and their spatial distribution and connectivity across the whole brain of various species of non-human primates (particularly macaques and marmosets). This requires development of new experimental and analytical tools and technologies for large-scale mapping of single-cell transcriptomes and connectomes, as well as effective international sharing of technologies and database. The data will yield new understandings of the working principles underlying cognitive and behavioral functions, the development and evolution of the primate brain, as well as the molecular and neural circuit basis of brain disorders.

The project was initiated by Drs. Mu-ming Poo and Qing-ming Luo from China, on the basis of the newly developed techniques and initial results on the whole-brain spatial transcriptome and connectome of the macaque brain at the single-cell resolution, as well as recent developments of several macaque models of brain disorders. The enormous task of data collection and analysis requires joint efforts among international neuroscientists. 

The MNPB is committed to establishing:

  • International collaborations through IBI, via organizing international conferences, initiating scientific collaborations among international teams, assembling management committees, and promoting governmental supports for the collaborative project.

  • An open technology development platform, and creating mechanisms for data standardization and sharing to facilitate international collaboration on mesoscopic mapping of the non-human primate brain.

  • International training programs for young investigators to promote non-human primate brain research, including regular summer schools and training courses in partnership with the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).

Working Group Membership

  • Dr. Mu-ming Poo, University of Institute of Neuroscience (ION) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Lead)

  • Dr. Jialin Zheng (Co-Lead)

  • Dr. Qing-ming Luo

  • Dr. Chengyu Li

  • Lijuan Mi (Secretary)

Other international members to be invited.