Recently, the Chinese Neuroscience Society (CNS) announced the 2023 "Major Advances in Chinese Neuroscience." Among those selected was the research paper "Single-cell spatial transcriptome reveals cell-type organization in macaque cortex," a collaborative effort between BGI-Research and international scientists.
The study, "Single-cell spatial transcriptome reveals cell-type organization in macaque cortex," was recognized in the 2023 "Major Advances in Chinese Neuroscience" by the Chinese Neuroscience Society (CNS).
This groundbreaking study was conducted in a collaboration between scientists from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligent Technology (Institute of Neuroscience) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI-Research, and other institutions. By conducting a comprehensive analysis that combined gene expression profiles with the spatial distribution of individual cells within 143 distinct regions of the macaque's cerebral cortex, the research team successfully developed the world's first three-dimensional single-cell atlas of the complete brain cortex in the crab-eating macaque. Furthermore, they constructed a three-tiered taxonomy that delineates the interconnections among various cellular types as well as the hierarchical structure of the brain's regions.
In this study, the research team applied BGI Group’s spatial multi-omics technology, Stereo-seq, and single-cell sequencing technology. BGI Group’s Stereo-seq technology features a large field of view and ultra-high precision, capable of detecting over 25,000 genes simultaneously.
This pioneering effort yielded the first complete set of single-cell and spatial transcriptome data of the macaque whole brain cortex, which has been made available in the public domain. This paper was published in the journal Cell in July 12, 2023.
"The construction of the macaque brain cell atlas will help us better understand brain diseases and provide basic reference resources for future design of disease treatment targets," said Dr. Xu Xun, co-corresponding author of the article and Director of BGI-Research. "At the same time, it is also expected to promote breakthroughs in the field of brain science, such as brain-inspired intelligence and brain-computer interfaces, which, through more accurate EEG signal collection, could enable the achievement of more complex bodily activities. These are development directions worth looking forward to and require scientists globally to jointly explore.”
In 2023, CNS recognized six leading research accomplishments from China for their significant contributions to the categories of scientific discovery and technological innovation in the life sciences. These esteemed recognitions were awarded to works emerging from premier universities and research institutions across the country.
Founded in 1995, the Chinese Neuroscience Society (CNS) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization with the status of an independent legal entity and is supported by neuroscientists from national scientific and research units, universities, and hospitals, among others.
The paper can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.06.009