Single-Cell Multi-omic and Spatial Cell Atlas of Pediatric Skin

Healthy human skin is contingent on physiological processes established during early life. However, the current limited knowledge of pediatric skin biology restricts understanding of disease pathogenesis and the innovation of therapeutic strategies.

This project aims to use high-throughput single-cell and spatial methods to comprehensively define key milestones in human skin maturation, including adaptation to a non-aquatic environment in neonatal life, pre- and post-adrenarche, and puberty, when recognized changes occur in health and disease. Additionally, the proposed study aims to contextualize pediatric skin data with adult healthy skin and inflammatory skin disease datasets previously generated by members of this research team.

A comprehensive reference of skin biology across human lifespan will empower the wider scientific community to gain insights into processes and time points involved in maturation, aging and disease pathogenesis. By learning more about how skin develops over time, this team hopes to provide insights relevant to pediatric inflammatory and infectious skin conditions, genetic skin diseases, and skin disorders specific to historically marginalized communities. Overall, this study will establish an important, accessible repository of pediatric skin samples, which will be shared freely to enhance skin research and clinical translation.