It began with a single cell — not in isolation, but in context.
In 2025, scientists at Duke-NUS unveiled BrainSTEM, a revolutionary single-cell map of the developing human brainstem. For decades, the brainstem was treated like a backstage operator: vital, but overlooked. Now, it’s center stage — and it may hold the key to treating Parkinson’s disease.
Mapping the Unseen
The brainstem controls essential functions: breathing, heartbeat, sleep, and movement. But its cellular complexity has long been a mystery. BrainSTEM changes that.
Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers cataloged every cell type in the brainstem, including the elusive dopamine-producing neurons that degenerate in Parkinson’s. This map reveals how these cells develop, interact, and — crucially — how they begin to fail.
A New Lens on Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease affects over 10 million people worldwide. It’s marked by tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement — all linked to the loss of dopamine neurons.
With BrainSTEM, scientists can now:
Identify early cellular changes before symptoms appear
Pinpoint genetic vulnerabilities in dopamine neurons
Develop targeted therapies that protect or regenerate these cells
It’s not just a map. It’s a blueprint for intervention.
Until now, Parkinson’s treatments focused on managing symptoms. BrainSTEM offers a path to prevention and reversal.
Stem cell therapies can be tailored to match native dopamine cells
Drug development can target specific molecular pathways
Early screening may become possible through cellular biomarkers
This isn’t just progress. It’s transformation.
The brainstem is no longer a mystery. It’s a guide — showing us where to look, what to protect, and how to heal.
As BrainSTEM expands to include aging brains and disease models, its impact will ripple across neurology, psychiatry, and regenerative medicine.