Science TechnologyWednesday, 17 June 2026·The Hindu - Science
IIT-Madras releases ANCHOR 3D human brainstem atlas at cell resolution
IIT-Madras released ANCHOR, a cell-resolution 3D atlas of the human brainstem, during the BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In 2026, IIT-Madras released ANCHOR, a three-dimensional atlas of the human brainstem at cell resolution, during the third BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026 held at IIT-Madras.
Key specifics
- ANCHOR stands for Atlas of Neurochemical Characterization of the Human Brainstem with 3D Reconstruction.
- The atlas was developed by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) at IIT-Madras.
- It maps more than 200 brainstem nuclei and fibre tracts reconstructed from hundreds of serial sections.
- Eight complementary immunostains were overlaid across more than 500 sections.
- The atlas combines MRI, histology and neurochemical mapping across prenatal, childhood and adult stages.
Exam lens
TNPSC science question focus: ANCHOR, SGBC, IIT-Madras, 3D brainstem atlas, 200+ nuclei, 500+ sections; likely asked as a research-institution and application-based question.