CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" class="no-js"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://irp.nih.gov/our-research/research-in-action/the-minds-map-maker" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/themes/irp/dist/fonts/montserrat-300.woff2" crossorigin="" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" /> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png" /> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png" /> <link rel="manifest" href="/site.webmanifest" /> <link rel="mask-icon" color="#20558a" href="/safari-pinned-tab.svg" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#20558a" /> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="/browserconfig.xml" /> <meta name="theme-color" content="#20558a" /> <title>The Mind’s Map Maker | NIH Intramural Research Program</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_OcDCXq7zQYzaQqkaZdTUS9375g7jTHGiMtMHe5R6u7s.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=irp&include=eJxFyEEOgCAMBMAPIX3TIg2QVGm69uDvPTrH4ctHL2mglhUuw3aDHSdZHIER8EnpkQ6r_9S8PZstTu0fcUoaMQ" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_ZPi-3uprEOSZb3-xfN9KCFG1ZlYFIsd4rR0nEGuOae0.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=irp&include=eJxFyEEOgCAMBMAPIX3TIg2QVGm69uDvPTrH4ctHL2mglhUuw3aDHSdZHIER8EnpkQ6r_9S8PZstTu0fcUoaMQ" /> </head> <body><a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable skip-link">Skip to main content</a> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas><header class="header"><div class="section"><div class="header__wrapper"><div class="header__logo"><div class="block block--content" id="block-sitebranding"><a href="/" class="logo"><img src="/themes/irp/logo.svg" alt="NIH Intramural Research Program, Our Research Changes Lives" width="465" height="63" class="logo__image" /></a> </div></div><div class="header__navcontrol header-navcontrol"><nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-navigationcontrols-menu" class="block block--menu" id="block-navigationcontrols"><h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-navigationcontrols-menu">Navigation controls</h2><ul class="menu-inline-icons"><li class="menu-inline-icons__item"><a href="https://search.nih.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=nih-irp" class="menu-inline-icons__link"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--search" viewBox="0 0 29 32" width="29" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#search"></use></svg><span class="menu-inline-icons__text">Search</span></a></li><li class="menu-inline-icons__item"><a href="/site-map" class="menu-inline-icons__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--menu" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#menu"></use></svg><span class="menu-inline-icons__text">Menu</span></a></li></ul></nav></div><div class="header__search"><div class="block block--content" id="block-irpsearch"><form accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search" id="search_form" method="get" role="search" class="search"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /><input name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="nih-irp" /><label class="visually-hidden" for="query">Enter Search Term(s):</label><div class="search__content"><input autocomplete="off" id="query" name="query" type="text" class="search__input" /><button name="commit" type="submit" value="Search" class="search__button"><span class="visually-hidden">Search</span><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--search" viewBox="0 0 29 32" width="29" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#search"></use></svg></button></div></form></div></div><div class="header__content header-content"><nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-social-menu" class="block block--menu" id="block-social"><h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-social-menu">Social follow links</h2><ul class="menu-circle-icons"><li class="menu-circle-icons__item"><a href="/podcast" class="menu-circle-icons__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33"><span class="menu-circle-icons__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--podcast" viewBox="0 0 37 32" width="37" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#podcast"></use></svg></span><span class="visually-hidden">Podcast</span></a></li><li class="menu-circle-icons__item"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/irpatnih/" class="menu-circle-icons__link"><span class="menu-circle-icons__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--instagram" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#instagram"></use></svg></span><span class="visually-hidden">Instagram</span></a></li><li class="menu-circle-icons__item"><a href="https://twitter.com/IRPatNIH" class="menu-circle-icons__link"><span class="menu-circle-icons__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--twitter" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#twitter"></use></svg></span><span class="visually-hidden">Twitter</span></a></li><li class="menu-circle-icons__item"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/IRPNIH" class="menu-circle-icons__link"><span class="menu-circle-icons__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--youtube" viewBox="0 0 35 32" width="35" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#youtube"></use></svg></span><span class="visually-hidden">YouTube</span></a></li><li class="menu-circle-icons__item"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/intramural-research-program-irp" class="menu-circle-icons__link"><span class="menu-circle-icons__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--linkedin" viewBox="0 0 33 32" width="33" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#linkedin"></use></svg></span><span class="visually-hidden">LinkedIn</span></a></li></ul></nav></div></div></div><div class="header__navbar"><div class="section"><div class="header__navwrapper"><div class="header__nav header-nav"><nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-mainnavigation-menu" class="block block--menu" id="block-mainnavigation"><h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-mainnavigation-menu">Main navigation</h2><ul class="menu menu--level--0"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/about-us" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7">About Us</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--1"><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/what-is-the-irp" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13">What Is the IRP?</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/history" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/14">History</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/honors" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/15">Honors</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/nobel-prize" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/43">Nobel Prize</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/lasker-award" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/44">Lasker Award</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/breakthrough-prize" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/45">Breakthrough Prize</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/shaw-prize" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4021">Shaw Prize</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/presidential-early-career-award-for-scientists-and-engineers-pecase" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/46">Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/presidential-medal-of-freedom" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/47">Presidential Medal of Freedom</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/national-medal-of-science" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48">National Medal of Science</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/searle-scholars" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49">Searle Scholars</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/the-national-academy-of-sciences" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/50">The National Academy of Sciences</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/the-national-academy-of-medicine" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/51">The National Academy of Medicine</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/the-national-academy-of-engineering" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/52">The National Academy of Engineering</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/the-american-academy-of-arts-and-sciences" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53">The American Academy of Arts and Sciences</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/national-medal-of-technology-and-innovation" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/54">National Medal of Technology & Innovation</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/samuel-j-heyman-service-to-america-medals" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/55">Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/crafoord-prize" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/56">Crafoord Prize</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/fellows-of-the-royal-society" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3227">Fellows of the Royal Society</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/honors/canada-gairdner-awards" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/57">Canada Gairdner Awards</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/organization-and-leadership" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/16">Organization & Leadership</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/our-programs" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/17">Our Programs</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nci" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/58">NCI</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nei" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/59">NEI</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nhgri" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/60">NHGRI</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nhlbi" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/61">NHLBI</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nia" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/62">NIA</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/niaaa" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/63">NIAAA</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/niaid" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/64">NIAID</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/niams" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/65">NIAMS</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nibib" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/66">NIBIB</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nichd" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/67">NICHD</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nida" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/68">NIDA</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nidcd" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/69">NIDCD</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nidcr" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/70">NIDCR</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/niddk" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/71">NIDDK</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/niehs" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/72">NIEHS</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nimh" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/73">NIMH</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nimhd" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/74">NIMHD</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/ninds" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/75">NINDS</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/ninr" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/76">NINR</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nlm" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/77">NLM</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/cc" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/78">CC</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/ncats" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/80">NCATS</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/about-us/our-programs/nccih" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/81">NCCIH</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/research-campus-locations" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18">Research Campus Locations</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/contact-information" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/19">Contact Information</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/our-research" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0 is-active-trail" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8">Our Research</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--1"><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20">Scientific Focus Areas</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/biomedical-engineering-and-biophysics" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/83">Biomedical Engineering & Biophysics</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/cancer-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/84">Cancer Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/cell-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/85">Cell Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/chemical-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/86">Chemical Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/chromosome-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/87">Chromosome Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/clinical-research" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/88">Clinical Research</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/computational-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/89">Computational Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/developmental-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/90">Developmental Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/epidemiology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/91">Epidemiology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/genetics-and-genomics" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/92">Genetics & Genomics</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/health-disparities" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93">Health Disparities</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/immunology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/94">Immunology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/microbiology-and-infectious-diseases" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/95">Microbiology & Infectious Diseases</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/molecular-biology-and-biochemistry" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96">Molecular Biology & Biochemistry</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/molecular-pharmacology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/97">Molecular Pharmacology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/neuroscience" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/98">Neuroscience</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/rna-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/99">RNA Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/social-and-behavioral-sciences" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/100">Social & Behavioral Sciences</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/stem-cell-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/101">Stem Cell Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/structural-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/102">Structural Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/systems-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/103">Systems Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas/virology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/104">Virology</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/pi" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21">Principal Investigators</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/principal-investigators/name" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="our-research/principal-investigators/name">View by Investigator Name</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/principal-investigators/focus" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="our-research/principal-investigators/focus">View by Scientific Focus Area</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/accomplishments" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22">Accomplishments</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/accomplishments/accomplishments-by-date" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/105">View All Accomplishments by Date</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/accomplishments/view-all-health-topics" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/106">View All Health Topics</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/accomplishments/the-body" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/9">The Body</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/accomplishments/health-and-wellness" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/10">Health & Wellness</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/accomplishments/conditions-and-diseases" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/11">Conditions & Diseases</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/accomplishments/procedures" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/12">Procedures</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/23">Accelerating Science</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/investing-in-cutting-edge-animal-models" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/107">Investing in Cutting-Edge Animal Models</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/creating-cell-based-therapies" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/108">Creating Cell-Based Therapies</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/advancing-computational-and-structural-biology" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/109">Advancing Computational and Structural Biology</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/combating-drug-resistance" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/110">Combating Drug Resistance</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/developing-novel-imaging-techniques" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/111">Developing Novel Imaging Techniques</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/charting-the-pathways-of-inflammation" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/112">Charting the Pathways of Inflammation</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/zooming-in-on-the-microbiome" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/113">Zooming in on the Microbiome</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/uncovering-new-opportunities-for-natural-products" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/114">Uncovering New Opportunities for Natural Products</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/stimulating-neuroscience-research" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/115">Stimulating Neuroscience Research</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/pursuing-precision-medicine" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/116">Pursuing Precision Medicine</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/unlocking-the-potential-of-rna-biology-and-therapeutics" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/117">Unlocking the Potential of RNA Biology and Therapeutics</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science/producing-novel-vaccines" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/118">Producing Novel Vaccines</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/research-in-action" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1 is-active-trail" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24">Research in Action</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/research-in-action" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24">View All Stories</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/research-in-action/shaping-therapies-for-sickle-cell-disease" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4023">Shaping Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/research-in-action/the-minds-map-maker" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2 is-active-trail is-active" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3869" aria-current="page">The Mind’s Map Maker</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/research-in-action/a-reboot-for-your-blood" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3784">A Reboot for Your Blood</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/research-in-action/ancient-genes-modern-diseases" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3572">Ancient Genes, Modern Diseases</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/trans-irp-research-resources" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25">Trans-IRP Research Resources</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/our-research/research-resources/supercomputing" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/119">Supercomputing</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/irp-review-process" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26">IRP Review Process</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/commercializing-inventions" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/27">Commercializing Inventions</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/nih-clinical-center" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/9">NIH Clinical Center</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--1"><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-center-facilities" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/28">Clinical Center Facilities</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-faculty" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="nih-clinical-center/clinical-faculty">Clinical Faculty</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/advancing-translational-science" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/29">Advancing Translational Science</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-trials" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/30">Clinical Trials</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-trials/get-involved-with-clinical-research" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/120">Get Involved with Clinical Research</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-trials/physician-resources" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/121">Physician Resources</a></li></ul></div></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/news-and-events" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10">News & Events</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--1"><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/news-and-events/in-the-news" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/31">In the News</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/blog" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/32">I am Intramural Blog</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/podcast" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33">Speaking of Science Podcast</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/scibites" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34">SciBites Video Shorts</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/catalyst" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="catalyst">The NIH Catalyst Newsletter</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/news-and-events/events" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/35">Events</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/11">Careers</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--1"><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/faculty-level-scientific-careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36">Faculty-Level Scientific Careers</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/trans-nih-scientific-recruitments" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/37">Trans-NIH Scientific Recruitments</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--2"><ul class="menu menu--level--2"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/careers/trans-nih-scientific-recruitments/stadtman-tenure-track-investigators" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/122">Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigators</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--3"><ul class="menu menu--level--3"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--3"><a href="/careers/trans-nih-scientific-recruitments/stadtman-tenure-track-investigators/science-the-stadtman-way" class="menu__link menu__link--level--3" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/126">Science, the Stadtman Way</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--3"><a href="/careers/trans-nih-scientific-recruitments/stadtman-tenure-track-investigators/earl-stadtman-investigator-frequently-asked-questions" class="menu__link menu__link--level--3" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/127">Earl Stadtman Investigator Frequently Asked Questions</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/careers/trans-nih-scientific-recruitments/lasker-clinical-research-scholars" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/123">Lasker Clinical Research Scholars</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--2"><a href="/careers/trans-nih-scientific-recruitments/independent-research-scholar" class="menu__link menu__link--level--2" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/124">Independent Research Scholar</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/scientific-and-clinical-careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/38">Scientific & Clinical Careers</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/administrative-careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/39">Administrative Careers</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/research-training" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/12">Research Training</a><div class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--level--1"><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/research-training/program-information" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40">Program Information</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/research-training/training-opportunities" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41">Training Opportunities</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/research-training/nih-work-life-resources" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42">NIH Work/Life Resources</a></li></ul></div></li></ul></nav></div></div></div></div></header> <div class="section"><div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div></div><main role="main"><div id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></div><div class="section"><div class="block block--content" id="block-mainpagecontent-2"><article><h1>The Mind’s Map Maker</h1><p class="text-align-center text-intro"><strong>Yi Gu</strong> is on a journey to find out how the brain learns the lay of the land.</p><div class="image"><figure class="image__wrapper"><picture><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_full/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-Gu_in_microscope_room.JPG.webp?itok=-CStw9Z0 1200w, /sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_threequarter/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-Gu_in_microscope_room.JPG.webp?itok=vvM__RgC 900w, /sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_half/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-Gu_in_microscope_room.JPG.webp?itok=xzm3i8qk 600w" sizes="(min-width:1260px) 1200px, 95vw" type="image/webp" /><img src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_full/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-Gu_in_microscope_room.JPG?itok=6ewMh4Zc" alt="Dr. Yi Gu poses with her lab's two-photon microscope" width="1200" height="675" class="image__img" /></picture></figure></div><p>Some people have a keenly tuned sense of direction, while others couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag. <a href="https://irp.nih.gov/pi/yi-gu">Dr. Yi Gu</a> firmly places herself in the latter group.</p> <p>“I am really bad in spatial navigation,” she admits. “I always get lost.”</p> <p>Despite her own difficulties getting from point A to point B, Dr. Gu knows more than most about how the brain helps us find our way around. That’s because her lab studies how a particular part of the brain, known as the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC), enables people navigate their environment. The MEC does this by working with another brain area, the hippocampus, to create a ‘cognitive map’ of our surroundings.</p><div class="image image--right image--size--quarter"><figure class="image__wrapper"><picture><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_quarter/public/media/image/2024-03/Research_in_action-Yi_Gu_Minds_Map_Maker-MEC_neurons_firing_still.png.webp?itok=KbnHedDL" type="image/webp" /><img src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_quarter/public/media/image/2024-03/Research_in_action-Yi_Gu_Minds_Map_Maker-MEC_neurons_firing_still.png?itok=d__NAKmT" alt="medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) neurons in a mouse's brain firing in real-time" width="300" height="296" class="image__img" /></picture><figcaption class="image__caption"><p><em>The techniques utilized in Dr. Gu’s lab allow her team to see a mouse’s MEC neurons (pictured above) fire in real-time as it performs a navigation task.</em></p></figcaption></figure></div><p>“When you go to a new place, your brain creates a map of the location so the next time you visit, you can still navigate your way around,” Dr. Gu explains. “And when you go to a different location, you have to create a new map so you can recognize the differences between places and do different things.”</p> <p>Of course, Dr. Gu isn’t pursuing her research just to help her own travel troubles. Several neurological disorders degrade patients’ ability to navigate the world around them. Her research could be especially revealing about the roots of Alzheimer’s disease because problems with spatial awareness are among the illness’s earliest symptoms. What’s more, the tangles of abnormal tau protein thought to contribute to Alzheimer’s first appear in the hippocampus and MEC, resulting in the death of neurons in those areas.</p><div class="image image--left image--size--third"><figure class="image__wrapper"><picture><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_third/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-setting_up_training_rig.jpg.webp?itok=IumaTz7w" type="image/webp" /><img src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_third/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-setting_up_training_rig.jpg?itok=-kn3v8QP" alt="graduate student Kai Zhang sets up the virtual reality training rig for the mice used in Dr. Gu's experiments" width="400" height="306" class="image__img" /></picture><figcaption class="image__caption"><p><em>Graduate student Kai Zhang sets up the treadmill that mice use to travel through a virtual reality environment in Dr. Gu’s studies.</em></p></figcaption></figure></div><p>Dr. Gu’s unique approach to breaking open the black box of neural navigation begins with figuring out how neurons in the MEC behave in the brains of healthy mice. The animals in her experiments are placed in front of a screen that displays a linear path through a virtual reality environment. To advance through the environment, the mouse runs on a tiny treadmill. While the mouse pursues its virtual reality journey, the activity of the neurons in its MEC is monitored with a special microscope that flings photons — particles of light — at the neurons, which have been genetically manipulated to emit their own light when hit by the incoming photons and glow more brightly when they are more active. The setup also allows Dr. Gu’s team to take advantage of a cutting-edge technique called optogenetics, in which researchers can use light to trigger or suppress the firing of neurons.</p> <p>“This allows us to not only follow the neurons’ activity, but also influence the activity of individual neurons, or of many neurons at the same time,” she says. “All neurons have different properties. We want to learn what happens when we modulate all the neurons in the MEC or only one specific neuron because it shows a certain pattern of activity.”</p><div class="video-caption"><div class="video"><div class="video__wrapper"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/BrvWl-ja-tI?rel=0&modestbranding=1" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" class="video__iframe" loading="lazy" title="NIH Research in Action: The Mind's Map Maker"></iframe></div></div><div class="video-caption__caption"><p><em>Dr. Yi Gu's lab measures the firing of neurons in the brains of mice as they run on a treadmill to journey through a virtual reality environment.</em></p></div></div><div class="image image--right image--size--third"><figure class="image__wrapper"><picture><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_third/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-two_photon_microscope.jpg.webp?itok=mFF2k1CA" type="image/webp" /><img src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_third/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-two_photon_microscope.jpg?itok=SPue7Zjd" alt="two-photon microscope" width="400" height="274" class="image__img" /></picture><figcaption class="image__caption"><p><em>Dr. Gu’s team uses this two-photon microscope to record the activity of a mouse’s MEC neurons during the lab’s experiments.</em></p></figcaption></figure></div><p>Indeed, research by Dr. Gu and others in her field has revealed that there are several types of cells in the MEC. Of most interest to Dr. Gu are ‘grid’ cells and ‘cue’ or ‘landmark’ cells. Cue cells play a crucial role in placing areas of interest on the brain’s cognitive map, like marking the location of the White House on a map of Washington, D.C. Grid cells, on the other hand, help you know your own position on that map by firing when you are in certain locations; for example, a certain set of grid cells might fire when you are two blocks east of the White House and another group of cells when you are five blocks north of it. However, studies have shown that grid cells fire in erratic ways in people with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, Dr. Gu says, the typical pattern of grid cell firing “becomes messier even before their symptoms start to develop, so this could be a way to detect the disease even before symptom onset.”</p><p>Since starting her IRP lab, Dr. Gu has made several contributions to our knowledge of how neurons in the MEC help us find our way through the world. One study <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38368457/">published in early 2024</a>, for instance, examined how neurons in the MEC behave in mice that quickly learned the layout of virtual environments compared to mice that did not. Her team found that MEC neurons were hyperactive in poor learners, firing at the same high level when the mouse was in a familiar environment it had already ventured through many times and in a new environment it had never seen before. On the other hand, MEC neurons fired more in new environments than in familiar ones in mice that quickly learned to navigate those new environments. This difference suggests that when MEC neurons fire too much, they fail to effectively map new areas.</p><div class="image image--left"><figure class="image__wrapper"><picture><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_half/public/media/image/2024-03/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-mouse_brain_window_composite_horizontalJPG.jpg.webp?itok=bCyo5jIq" type="image/webp" /><img src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_half/public/media/image/2024-03/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-mouse_brain_window_composite_horizontalJPG.jpg?itok=cGsDVWm0" alt="a window in the skull of a mouse gives a view of fluorescent neurons in its brain" width="600" height="225" class="image__img" /></picture><figcaption class="image__caption"><p><em>The Gu lab’s two-photon microscope peers into a tiny window in a mouse’s skull that allows the microscope to directly measure the activity of neurons in the MEC, which emit light when hit with photons from the microscope.</em></p></figcaption></figure></div><p>The same study also showed that in the poor learners, MEC grid cells fired in a much less consistent way than in the good learners, suggesting that the cells were doing a worse job of reliably telling poor learners where they were in the environment. Further reinforcing this theory, Dr. Gu’s team could disrupt the memory of good learners in a familiar environment by using optogenetics to force their MEC neurons to fire in random ways, effectively causing the mice that had previously been efficient learners to become poor learners.</p> <p>Dr. Gu’s lab is now replicating that experiment with mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Initial results suggest that their MEC cells also fire in inconsistent ways in the same environment, showing some similarities to healthy mice that fail to learn the layout of new surroundings.</p> <p>“That could suggest when the mice do not learn well, there are some issues with synaptic plasticity, which is a process that helps a neural network to learn and stabilize in a certain state,” Dr. Gu says. “This process is disrupted in Alzheimer’s disease and also in other neurological disorders.”</p><div class="image"><figure class="image__wrapper"><picture><source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_full/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-group_shot.JPG.webp?itok=W40_gopC 1200w, /sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_threequarter/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-group_shot.JPG.webp?itok=bi4rr14U 900w, /sites/default/files/styles/webp_image_half/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-group_shot.JPG.webp?itok=ZQgFVS7m 600w" sizes="(min-width:1260px) 1200px, 95vw" type="image/webp" /><img src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_full/public/media/image/2024-02/research_in_action-Yi_Gu_minds_map_maker-group_shot.JPG?itok=n8_-6UXO" alt="the Gu lab" width="1200" height="675" class="image__img" /></picture><figcaption class="image__caption"><p><em>The Gu lab. Back row left to right: graduate student Kai Zhang, postdoctoral fellow Lujia Chen, postbaccalaureate fellow Kyle Cekada, postbaccalaureate fellow Garret Wang, and postdoctoral fellow Taylor Malone. Front row left to right: postdoctoral fellow Ellane Barcelon, Dr. Gu, and lab manager Yan Ma.</em></p></figcaption></figure></div><p>Dr. Gu’s experiments with mouse models of Alzheimer’s have only just begun and will be augmented by continued research with healthy animals, including studies looking into how neurons in the MEC alter their production of proteins while animals learn to navigate new environments. She hopes her discoveries will ultimately enable the creation of new ways to treat Alzheimer’s and to diagnose it in its early stages.</p> <p>Even with that payoff still far in the future, Dr. Gu remains excited to continue digging into the complex array of neurons that create maps of the outside world within our own minds.</p> <p>“It’s like using your own brain to understand your brain — it seems impossible,” she says. “It’s the complexity, I think, that attracts me because there is a lot that is unknown, and there are a lot more opportunities for discovery.”</p> <p><a href="https://irp.nih.gov/pi/yi-gu">Yi Gu, Ph.D.</a>, is an IRP Investigator and head of the <a href="https://research.ninds.nih.gov/gu-lab">Spatial Navigation and Memory Unit</a> at the <a href="https://irp.nih.gov/about-us/our-programs/ninds">National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke</a> (NINDS).</p><div class="updated"> <p class="updated__date"><small>This page was last updated on Wednesday, July 24, 2024</small></p> </div></article> </div></div></main><footer class="footer"><div class="footer-content"><div class="section"><div class="footer-content__wrapper"><div class="footer-content__item"><h2 class="footer-content__heading">Get IRP Updates</h2></div><div class="footer-content__item"><p class="footer-content__text"><a href="https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=nih_irp_webinfo&A=1" class="button">Subscribe</a></p></div></div></div></div><div class="footer-share"><div class="section"><div class="block block--content" id="block-share"><ul class="share-links"><li class="share-links__item"><a href="mailto:?subject=The%20Mind%E2%80%99s%20Map%20Maker&body=https%3A%2F%2Firp.nih.gov%2Four-research%2Fresearch-in-action%2Fthe-minds-map-maker" class="share-links__link"><span class="share-links__label">Email</span><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--email" viewBox="0 0 40 32" width="40" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#email"></use></svg></a></li><li class="share-links__item share-links__item--js-only"><a href="javascript:window.print();" class="share-links__link"><span class="share-links__label">Print</span><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--print" viewBox="0 0 38 32" width="38" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#print"></use></svg></a></li><li class="share-links__item"><span class="share-links__label">Share</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Mind%E2%80%99s%20Map%20Maker&url=https%3A%2F%2Firp.nih.gov%2Four-research%2Fresearch-in-action%2Fthe-minds-map-maker" class="share-links__link"><span class="visually-hidden">Twitter</span><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--twitter" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#twitter"></use></svg></a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Firp.nih.gov%2Four-research%2Fresearch-in-action%2Fthe-minds-map-maker" class="share-links__link"><span class="visually-hidden">Facebook</span><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--facebook" viewBox="0 0 18 32" width="18" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#facebook"></use></svg></a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Firp.nih.gov%2Four-research%2Fresearch-in-action%2Fthe-minds-map-maker" class="share-links__link"><span class="visually-hidden">LinkedIn</span><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--linkedin" viewBox="0 0 33 32" width="33" height="32"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#linkedin"></use></svg></a></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="footer-nav"><div class="section"><nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-mainnavigation-2-menu" class="block block--menu" id="block-mainnavigation-2"><h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-mainnavigation-2-menu">Main navigation</h2><ul class="menu menu--level--0"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/about-us" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7">About Us</a><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/what-is-the-irp" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13">What Is the IRP?</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/history" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/14">History</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/honors" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/15">Honors</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/organization-and-leadership" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/16">Organization & Leadership</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/our-programs" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/17">Our Programs</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/research-campus-locations" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18">Research Campus Locations</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/about-us/contact-information" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/19">Contact Information</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/our-research" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0 is-active-trail" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8">Our Research</a><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/scientific-focus-areas" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20">Scientific Focus Areas</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/pi" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21">Principal Investigators</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/accomplishments" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22">Accomplishments</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/accelerating-science" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/23">Accelerating Science</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/research-in-action" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1 is-active-trail" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24">Research in Action</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/trans-irp-research-resources" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25">Trans-IRP Research Resources</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/irp-review-process" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26">IRP Review Process</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/our-research/commercializing-inventions" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/27">Commercializing Inventions</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/nih-clinical-center" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/9">NIH Clinical Center</a><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-center-facilities" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/28">Clinical Center Facilities</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-faculty" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="nih-clinical-center/clinical-faculty">Clinical Faculty</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/advancing-translational-science" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/29">Advancing Translational Science</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/nih-clinical-center/clinical-trials" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/30">Clinical Trials</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/news-and-events" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10">News & Events</a><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/news-and-events/in-the-news" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/31">In the News</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/blog" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/32">I am Intramural Blog</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/podcast" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33">Speaking of Science Podcast</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/scibites" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34">SciBites Video Shorts</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/catalyst" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="catalyst">The NIH Catalyst Newsletter</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/news-and-events/events" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/35">Events</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/11">Careers</a><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/faculty-level-scientific-careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36">Faculty-Level Scientific Careers</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/trans-nih-scientific-recruitments" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/37">Trans-NIH Scientific Recruitments</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/scientific-and-clinical-careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/38">Scientific & Clinical Careers</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/careers/administrative-careers" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/39">Administrative Careers</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/research-training" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/12">Research Training</a><ul class="menu menu--level--1"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/research-training/program-information" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40">Program Information</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/research-training/training-opportunities" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/41">Training Opportunities</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--1"><a href="/research-training/nih-work-life-resources" class="menu__link menu__link--level--1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42">NIH Work/Life Resources</a></li></ul></li></ul></nav></div></div><div class="footer-links"><div class="section"><div class="footer-links__wrapper"><div class="block block--content" id="block-governmentlinks"><ul class="gov-logos"><li class="gov-logos__item"><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/" class="gov-logos__link"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--hhs" viewBox="0 0 100 100" width="100" height="100"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#hhs"></use></svg><span class="visually-hidden">Department of Health and Human Services</span></a></li><li class="gov-logos__item"><a href="https://www.nih.gov/" class="gov-logos__link"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--nih" viewBox="0 0 100 100" width="100" height="100"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#nih"></use></svg><span class="visually-hidden">National Institutes of Health</span></a></li><li class="gov-logos__item"><a href="https://www.usa.gov/" class="gov-logos__link"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon--usa" viewBox="0 0 260 100" width="260" height="100"><use xlink:href="/themes/irp/dist/images/icons/icons.svg?v3#usa"></use></svg><span class="visually-hidden">USA.gov</span></a></li></ul></div><nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-footer-menu" class="block block--menu" id="block-footer"><h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-footer-menu">Footer</h2><ul class="menu menu--level--0"><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>">Home</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/about-us/contact-information" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/19">Contact Us</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/irp-brand-materials" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/129">IRP Brand Materials</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/web-policies-and-notices" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3137">Web Policies & Notices</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="/site-map" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2">Site Map</a></li><li class="menu__item menu__item--level--0"><a href="https://search.nih.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=nih-irp" class="menu__link menu__link--level--0">Search</a></li></ul></nav></div></div></div></footer></div> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_aEepVUwvp-7jsbgzovIlxBLUCUCMql74H95CWPxGNww.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=irp&include=eJzLLCrQT8_JT0rM0S1OLsosKCkGAEJNByE"></script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-GSEVCV8EJH"></script><script>window.dataLayer=window.dataLayer||[];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}gtag('js',new Date());gtag('config','G-GSEVCV8EJH');</script> </body> </html>