PM Modi Launches IIT Madras Mission To Map 100 Human Brains, Releases Stroke Atlas

Last Updated:October 15, 2026, 3:49 PM IST

According to IIT Madras, the initiative aims to create the world’s largest collection of whole-human-brain 3D maps at cellular resolution.

Modi released C-STROKE, described by IIT Madras as the world’s first human ischemic stroke atlas. (Image: iitm.ac.in)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a mission by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) at IIT Madras to create three-dimensional maps of more than 100 human brains at cellular resolution. The project will cover different stages of life, from the foetal stage to old age, and include brains affected by diseases.

According to IIT Madras, the initiative aims to create the world’s largest collection of whole-human-brain 3D maps at cellular resolution. The maps are expected to support research into brain development, neurological conditions and diseases, states the official press release.

The mission uses SGBC’s brain imaging technology to convert whole post-mortem human brains into detailed digital 3D maps. These maps will be made publicly accessible through an online platform, allowing researchers, medical professionals and clinicians worldwide to study brain structure and disease.

The project involves more than 200 researchers, engineers and technicians at SGBC, over 10 medical institutions across India, and more than 30 researchers from over 10 countries.

During the visit, Modi also released C-STROKE, described by IIT Madras as the world’s first human ischemic stroke atlas. Developed by SGBC, the open-access resource connects clinical MRI scans taken before death with microscopic images of the whole brain.

The atlas contains more than 1,000 annotated sections from a brain affected by stroke. It maps cellular markers linked to neuronal health, neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier disruption, hypoxia and axonal injury. The resource is designed to help researchers understand how stroke-related changes visible in medical scans correspond to damage at the cellular level.

The 3D maps were generated using the Param Shakti supercomputer, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The platform includes an open-access data viewer and analytical tools intended to help researchers investigate cerebrovascular diseases and identify potential therapeutic targets.

The C-STROKE project received support from V. Prem Watsa, an IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus and chairman of Fairfax Financial.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and an IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus who helped establish the centre and is a major donor, said the Prime Minister’s visit would inspire scientists working on the mission. He also expressed hope that it would encourage philanthropists to support and expand advanced scientific research in India.

Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, head of SGBC at IIT Madras, said the mission brings together brain science, engineering, medicine and technology. He added that the maps and atlases could have significant implications for neuroscience and neuromedicine for decades to come.

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What is the goal of the IIT Madras brain mapping mission launched by PM Modi?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a mission by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT Madras to create three-dimensional maps of more than 100 human brains at cellular resolution. The project covers all stages of life, from the foetal stage to old age, aiming to build the world’s largest collection of whole-human-brain 3D maps to support neuroscience research.

What is C-STROKE and what does the atlas include?

Released by PM Modi during his visit, C-STROKE is described as the world’s first human ischemic stroke atlas. Developed by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, it is an open-access resource containing over 1,000 annotated sections from a stroke-affected brain, connecting clinical pre-death MRI scans with whole-brain microscopic images.

How were the 3D brain maps and C-STROKE generated at IIT Madras?

The 3D brain maps and stroke atlas were generated using the Param Shakti supercomputer with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The project was developed with backing from IIT Madras distinguished alumnus V. Prem Watsa and involves over 200 researchers and technicians working alongside multiple medical institutions and international researchers.

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