Ancestrally Diverse Single-Cell Skin Tissue Atlas

Differences in skin pigmentation, epidermal thickness, hair density, texture, and pigmentation are ancestrally linked to disease susceptibility, yet related skin, stem, pigment, and immune cell features remain unknown. This network will build a spatially resolved atlas of human skin cells composed of gene expression and gene regulatory state data spanning three developmentally, anatomically, and physiologically distinct body sites. The group will use samples from a variety of ancestries including African American, Latinx, Middle Eastern, and Asian populations.

Inherited and acquired skin diseases often have disproportionate effects in different ancestral groups. To help explain ancestral differences in skin biology and pathology, the network will generate a comprehensive skin cell atlas through multi-modal single-cell and spatial genomic approaches on cells from nearly 72 adults, ages 18 years and above. In consultation with a community engagement advisory board, the network will use the Community Engagement Studio model to ensure fairness, obtain feedback, and share information with communities.