Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the human brain-mapping mission at the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) during the 139th episode of his Mann Ki Baat programme on Sunday.
The centre has developed a brain-imaging technology platform that produces high-resolution digital 3D maps of the human brain. The mission aims to map more than 100 human brains at cellular resolution, covering different stages of life, from the foetal stage to old age, as well as brain-related diseases.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
PM Modi highlighted IIT Madras's brain-mapping mission during Mann Ki Baat on October 25.
The mission aims to map more than 100 human brains in 3D at cellular resolution.
The project uses the Param Shakti supercomputer for computational processing.
The planned atlases cover different stages of human life and brain-related diseases.
The resulting data is intended to support research across scientific disciplines.
C-STROKE is the world's first human ischaemic stroke atlas, according to IIT Madras.
The project uses the Param Shakti supercomputer, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, to process complex brain-imaging data.
Modi said the human brain remains a major scientific challenge despite advances in modern science. He highlighted the potential of detailed brain research to improve understanding of brain function and support further studies into conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
The Prime Minister also noted that the data generated through the mission would be made available as an open resource for researchers across different fields.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
High-resolution 3D brain maps can help researchers examine brain structures at cellular resolution and investigate changes associated with neurological conditions. Making the data available to the research community could support collaboration and further scientific studies.
The brain-mapping initiative is a multidisciplinary effort involving researchers, engineers, medical institutions and international collaborators. By creating detailed digital brain atlases, the project aims to provide scientific resources for studying brain structure, development and disease.
On October 11, 2026, Modi dedicated the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre to the nation and released C-STROKE, described by IIT Madras as the world's first human ischaemic stroke atlas. The atlas contains more than 1,000 annotated brain sections and connects clinical MRI scans with microscopic examination of brain tissue.
