# Dissemination of FlyWire, A Whole-Brain Connectomics Resource

> **NIH NIH U24** · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $1,189,214

## Abstract

This proposal will disseminate FlyWire, a Drosophila whole brain connectomics resource. We
used advances in AI to segment all neurons from a whole brain EM volume called FAFB. The
automated segmentation is of high enough quality that, in combination with innovative
proofreading tools, scientists can relatively quickly proofread circuits of interest. The community
of current collaborators includes about 160 scientists from 40 labs, who have so far succeeded
at proofreading more than 15% of the neurons in the fly brain. Several publications have
resulted, and more are on the way. Proofreading is required because automated segmentation,
while good, contains errors that must be fixed with manual correction. Janelia/HHMI spent 50
person-years proofreading an EM volume that contains roughly one-third of the neurons in
another female brain, a resource called the hemibrain. A whole brain connectome, in contrast,
will make it possible to address questions about brain-wide circuit organization and about any
brain region. We created this unique resource with a three-year grant from the BRAIN Initiative,
and are now seeking additional funding to disseminate the resource more widely. Our
framework for dissemination will set the standard for emerging, larger connectomics datasets,
such as those of mammals. We propose three Aims for dissemination that include outreach
efforts, deploying a centrally-managed proofreading team, and enhancing the user interface and
tools available to access FlyWire data. In particular, a Community Manager will organize the
community of scientists working in FlyWire, will recruit and train new users, will run workshops,
and will coordinate access to the trained proofreaders. Scientists can apply to have an expert
proofreader assist with their circuit reconstruction projects, and we will give priority to new users.
Finally, in the first year of the project we will implement GUI tools in FlyWire that facilitate
discovery without necessitating programming skills.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10439970
- **Project number:** 1U24NS126935-01
- **Recipient organization:** PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mala Murthy
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,189,214
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10439970

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10439970, Dissemination of FlyWire, A Whole-Brain Connectomics Resource (1U24NS126935-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10439970. Licensed CC0.

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