Detailed molecular dissection of the human brain in health and disease.

The brain is the most complex organ of our body and involved in many vital body functions.

We recently mapped all proteins expressed in the brain of humans, mouse and pigs and investigated where in the brain specific proteins are found and identify several proteins that are not expressed in all three mammalian species.

We created an interactive brain atlas that allows researchers to explore their brain region or gene of interest (https://www.proteinatlas.org/humanproteome/brain).

We will now extend this analysis by zooming in further and investigate many areas of the brain using the latest technology based on DNA-chips. These chips can capture the full range of expressed genes in all cells in a single thin section of brain tissue. This will not only tell us what is happening inside a cell, but also how neighboring cells communicate.

We will apply this new method to learn more about the molecular and cellular organization of the healthy brain, but also will investigate the changes in neurodegenerative disorders like dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

All data will become open access via the human protein atlas brain section, allowing the public, students, and experts in the field from both academia and industry to explore the data.

Ultimately, these data should assist the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutic strategies for diseases of the brain.