WHAT IS BMAP?
The Brain Molecular Anatomy Project is a trans-NIH project aimed at understanding gene expression and function in the nervous system.
BMAP has two major scientific goals:
- Gene discovery: to catalog of all the genes expressed in the nervous system, under both normal and abnormal conditions.
- Gene expression analysis: to monitor gene expression patterns in the nervous system as a function of cell type, anatomical location, developmental stage, and physiological state, and thus gain insight into gene function.
In pursuit of these goals, BMAP has launched several initiatives to provide resources and funding opportunities for the scientific community. These include several Requests for Applications and Requests for Proposals, descriptions of which can be found in this Web site. BMAP is also in the process of establishing physical and electronic resources for the community, including repositories of cDNA clones for nervous system genes, and databases of gene expression information for the nervous system.
Most of the BMAP initiatives so far have focused on the mouse as a model species because of the ease of experimental and genetic manipulation of this organism, and because many models of human disease are available in the mouse. However, research in humans, other mammalian species, non-mammalian vertebrates, and invertebrates is also being funded through BMAP.
ABOUT THIS WEB SITE
For the convenience of interested investigators, we have established this Web site as a central information resource, focusing on major NIH-sponsored funding opportunities, initiatives, genomic resources available to the research community, courses and scientific meetings related to BMAP initiatives, and selected reports and publications. When appropriate, we will also post initiatives not directly sponsored by BMAP, but which are deemed relevant to its goals. Posting decisions are made by the Trans-NIH BMAP Committee. Suggestions for improving this Web site and for items to be added are welcome. Comments may be sent to Hemin Chin at hchin@mail.nih.gov.
This page was last updated: October 13, 2002