Industrial Scale Brain Mapping

Narayanan “Bobby” Kasthuri, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurobiology
University of Chicago
Neuroscientist
Argonne National Laboratory

Kasthuri explores how the brain changes as it grows. The Kasthuri Lab is pioneering new techniques for large-volume reconstructions of the fine structure of the nervous system — particularly complete and comprehensive maps of the brain. The images his team creates — using high-energy X-rays — provide enough data to identify the location of every neuron, blood vessel and component of the brain. Scientists can use these maps to better understand diseases such as autism, diabetes and stroke by comparing maps of diseased brains to those of healthy ones. He also studies how microorganisms affect the structure and function of developing neurons on the outer edges of the brain.