Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a web-based platform that provides new insight into the human body at the cellular level.

The new Single Cell Atlas (SCA) is based on analyses of thousands of human tissue samples from 125 different adult and fetal tissues. The researchers combined eight omics technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics to map and localise genes expressed in the tissue.

The researchers combined eight omics technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics to map and localise genes expressed in the tissue.”

The platform provides insights into individual cell properties and their interactions within tissues, and the collection of data is freely accessible through the platform’s website.

“The Single Cell Atlas not only saves time and resources but also fosters a collaborative environment for scientists from diverse fields, paving the way for new discoveries and innovations,” says Lu Pan, researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and the study’s first author.

“Our goal is to continually enrich the atlas”

Looking ahead, the team plans to refine the SCA by introducing more detailed analyses and annual updates. These enhancements will fill gaps in tissue representation and expand the sample size, allowing for more precise research.

“The creation of the SCA marks a significant step forward in biomedical research,” says Xuexin Li, researcher at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (previously at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics), Karolinska Institutet, and the study’s last author. “Our goal is to continually enrich the atlas, making it an invaluable resource for understanding human health and disease.”

The research was done in collaboration with China Medical University and several other international collaboration partners in The Single Cell Atlas Consortium. The study was financed by Karolinska Institutet and the KI Network Medicine Global Alliance (KI NMA). Coauthor Volker Lauschke is CEO and shareholder of HepaPredict AB, co-founder and shareholder of PersoMedix AB, and discloses consultancy work for Enginzyme AB. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

The study has been published in Genome Biology.

Photo of Lu Pan and Xuexin Li:  N/A