SENSATIONAL CELLS

THE HUMAN CELL ATLAS IS INITIALLY

FOCUSED ON FIVE TYPES OF CELL…

BRAIN

The brain is probably the most complex organ in                   
the body, made up of more than 86 billion nerve                     
cells (neurons). By mapping all the patterns of                       
gene activity in different brain cells, researchers                     
hope to understand how neurons wire up and                         
communicate, and what goes wrong in psychiatric                 
and neuro degenerative illnesses.                                             

IMMUNE SYSTEM

There are hundreds of types of cell in the immune
system alone, each with distinct roles in spotting
and responding to infections or disease. Analysing
each cell type will reveal the changes that happen
as the immune system fires into action, and will
shed light on autoimmune conditions and
allergies.

EPITHELIAL CELLS

Epithelial cells are one of the most versatile cell

types. They make the linings of our organs,
ranging from the tubes of the gut to the delicate air
sacs of the lungs. Establishing how epithelial cells
carry out such a diverse range of roles will explain
how organs grow and are affected by diseases
such as cancer

PLACENTA AND FOETUS

Studying these tissues will reveal how we grow

and develop in the womb, and how a healthy
placenta develops to provide oxygen and
nutrients. This will give us vital clues for
understanding what has gone wrong in babies
who are born with developmental disorders, or
when a pregnancy ends in miscarriage or stillbirth.

CANCER

By analysing gene activity in single cancer cells,
researchers hope to identify the changes that
trigger the growth and spread of tumours. They
are also searching for clues to explain how these
rogue cells can develop resistance to therapy, with
the aim of finding ways to prevent the disease
coming back again after treatment.