dHCP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Developing Human Connectome Project
IRAS ID
138070
Contact name
David Edwards
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
This is a large-scale cross-sectional observational study aimed to map the development of structural and functional connections in the human brain using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It aims to observe these connections in the fetal brain before birth and in newborn infants, and to create the first comprehensive mapping of the growth of normal and abnormal connectivity from 20 to 44 weeks gestational age. This 'connectome' will provide insights into fundamental neural processes and currently intractable neuropsychiatric diseases.
The connectivity map will be at millimetre-scale, and will be created using diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI)to structure the neuronal tracts that connect brain regions, and functional connectivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fcMRI)to observe brain regions connected functionally. By linking connectivity data to genetic, cognitive and environmental information it will be possible to answer specific neurobiological questions on the creation of mental functions, structure-function relationships and the influences that shape them.
Current human connectome research relates almost exclusively to the mature brain. This study will deliver the first 4-dimensional connectome of early life, with imaging and collateral data in an expandable open-source informatics structure that will permit wide use by the scientific community, and to undertake pioneer studies into normal and abnormal development by studying well-phenotyped and genotyped cohorts of infants with specific genetic and environmental risks. This will be of wide use to both neuroscientists and medical researchers.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1169
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion