The EBRAINS User Stories series spotlights members of our community, highlighting their contributions and how the EBRAINS digital platform enables their work.
This time, we speak with Oumnia Morabit, a master’s researcher whose work has expanded the Waxholm Space rat brain atlas by integrating openly available histological datasets hosted on EBRAINS to map the rat amygdala.
Can you tell us about your project and how EBRAINS helps make it possible?
My master’s project focused on delineating the subdivisions of the rat amygdaloid complex within the Waxholm Space rat brain atlas. Although the Waxholm Space atlas encompasses all major brain structures including 226 regions in its version 4.01, the amygdaloid complex subregions were not delineated because this region is particularly difficult to visualise using MRI alone due to low contrast and imaging distortions.
To overcome these limitations, I integrated the MRI reference template with openly available histological datasets hosted on EBRAINS, showing the cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture and chemoarchitecture of the rat amygdaloid subdivisions. The combination of these complementary modalities allowed us to identify the boundaries of 12 amygdaloid subdivisions and incorporate them into the 3D atlas framework. This project would simply not have been possible without the open resources provided through EBRAINS.
What difference did access to openly available neuroscience data make for your research?
Having access to openly available neuroscience data fundamentally changed what was possible for my project. Acquiring all of these different histological datasets independently would have required years of work, considerable funding, and the use of many additional experimental animals. Through EBRAINS, these resources were already accessible, and well documented, allowing us to focus on scientific discovery rather than recreating existing data.
This experience showed me the real value of open science. Sharing data not only accelerates research but also encourages collaboration between laboratories by collectively building knowledge and creating resources that benefit the entire neuroscience community.
What drew you to Oslo and this neuroanatomy group, and what has the experience of working in this group been like for you?
I was drawn to the Neural Systems Laboratory in Oslo because of its internationally recognised expertise in neuroanatomy, brain atlasing, and digital neuroscience. The opportunity to contribute to the Waxholm Space atlas while working with researchers actively involved in developing widely used neuroscience resources was an exceptional learning opportunity and perfectly matched my interest in neuroanatomy.
Working in the group has been an incredibly enriching experience. I learned advanced approaches for integrating multimodal neuroanatomical data and gained practical experience with digital brain atlasing tools. Beyond the technical aspects, I really appreciated the collaborative atmosphere of the lab. Everyone was willing to share their expertise, discuss ideas, and encourage scientific curiosity, which made it an ideal environment for learning and developing as an early-career researcher.
You have experience living and working across different cultures and languages. How has that shaped the way you collaborate with other scientists?
Studying and working in different countries has taught me that scientific collaboration goes far beyond sharing data or technical expertise. Every research environment has its own ways of communicating, solving problems, and approaching scientific questions. Learning to adapt to different cultures has made me more open-minded, more attentive to different perspectives, and more comfortable working in diverse international teams.
Speaking several languages has also helped me communicate with researchers from different backgrounds and build connections more easily. During my internships and at international conferences such as FENS, I had the opportunity to discuss my work with scientists from many countries. These experiences reinforced the idea that science is truly an international effort, and that diversity in backgrounds and perspectives often leads to stronger collaborations and better research.
“Through EBRAINS, these resources were already accessible, and well documented, allowing us to focus on scientific discovery rather than recreating existing data”
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