Baltimore: Capturing a complete picture of what causes brain diseases from schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease to addiction has long remained a challenge to scientists. But a growing body of evidence indicates that all seem related to the basal ganglia—a group of structures found in the center of the brain that control the body’s movements, decision-making processes, and habit formation.
Today, a large group of scientists from more than 50 institutions released the first-ever comprehensive, multi-species atlas of the basal ganglia cell types from humans, macaques, marmosets, and mice. The atlas could help elucidate the key roles different cells play in determining the pathways that give rise to various brain diseases. The journal Cell and other Cell Press journals published a package of 28 papers funded by the National Institute of Health’s Brain Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN), known informally as the BRAIN Initiative.
By building its research tool known as the NeMO Archive (Neuroscience Multi-Omic Archive), IGS researchers made the NeMO Archive user-friendly for scientists around the world to discover, analyze, and integrate data across multiples studies and technologies. Including this new research, NeMO Archive houses data on genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and spatial transcriptomic data from more than 50 million brain cells.
“I’ve spent much of my career working to make scientific data openly accessible, because the real value of these large research efforts comes when scientists everywhere can build upon them,” said Contributing Principal Investigator Owen White, PhD , Associate Director of Research Collaboration and Development at IGS and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at UMSOM. “NeMO brings together an extraordinary diversity of brain data and makes it possible for researchers to explore and connect findings across studies, technologies, and institutions. That’s the promise of building a truly open scientific data ecosystem.”
Among the key findings from the group of studies include that University of California, San Francisco researchers found key genetic changes in specific cell types of the basal ganglia that might play a role in autism and ultimately could lead to new treatments. Researchers from the Allen Institute discovered a new type of brain cell linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
“These studies highlight how advances in single-cell molecular analysis—supported by a growing ecosystem of openly accessible research data in our NeMO Archive— are enabling scientists to make discoveries that extend well beyond the scope of individual studies,” Dr. White said.
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About the Institute for Genome Sciences
The Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) has been part of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) since 2007. IGS scientists work in diverse areas, applying genomics and systems biology approaches to better understand health issues to create a healthier Maryland and world. Our research spans multiple areas including cancer and precision medicine; parasitic, fungal, and bacterial diseases; sexual and reproductive health; the underpinnings of aging; and neuroscience areas including brain development, addiction, and mental health IGS also remains at the forefront of high-throughput genomic technologies and bioinformatics analyses through its core facility, Maryland Genomics which provides researchers around the world with cutting-edge, collaborative, and cost-effective sequencing and analysis.
About the University of Maryland School of Medicine
The University of Maryland School of Medicine , established in 1807 as the first public medical school in the U.S., continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world. The School has nearly $500 million total research funding, 46 departments, centers, and institutes, more than 2,200 student trainees and over 3,000 faculty members, including notable members of the National Academy of Medicine. As the largest public medical school in the DC/MD/VA region, faculty-physicians are working to help patients manage chronic diseases like obesity, cancer, heart disease and addiction, while also working on cutting-edge research to address the most critical generational health challenges. In 2024, the School ranked #12 among public medical schools and #27 among all medical schools for R&D expenditures by the National Science Foundation. With a $1.3 billion total operating budget, the School partners with the University of Maryland Medical Center to serve nearly 2 million patients annually. The School's global reach extends around the world with research and treatment facilities in 33 countries. In Maryland, the School of Medicine is spearheading new initiatives in AI and health computing and partnering with the University of Maryland BioPark to develop new medical technologies and bioengineering ventures. For more information, visit medschool.umaryland.edu .
Cell
Experimental study
Human tissue samples
Towards an Integrated Framework for a Human and Mammalian Brain Cell Atlas The BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN)*
12-Nov-2026