Genomics for Health Webinar Series: Mapping the Human Body One Cell at a Time
This webinar is the first of a series on Genomics for Health.
The 37 trillion cells of the human body have a remarkable array of specialized functions and must cooperate in time and space to construct a functioning human.
In this webinar, Sarah Teichmann, professor of stem cell medicine at the University of Cambridge and co-founder and co-leader of the International Human Cell Atlas Consortium, will discuss how her lab harnesses cutting-edge single-cell and spatial genomics to better understand this cellular diversity — specifically how distinct microenvironments regulate cell identity. The lab’s spatial atlas of the adult human heart includes the first comprehensive map of the conduction system, and it harnessed the unique molecular signature of the very rare pacemaker cells to make predictions about potential drug activities. Moving from the single organ to the systems level, Teichmann’s team revealed the context-specific and context-agnostic features of the vasculature across the body. Finally, the team has taken cell atlases into 3D and 4D with its thymus atlases. Studying thymus development uncovered the rules of T-cell identity, which Teichmann’s team then harnessed in the dish to engineer T cells from thymic organoids. The lab also used advanced spatial and computational methods to map T-cell development to a continuous tissue axis, identifying the key spatial and temporal features of this crucial developmental trajectory.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Genomics for Health Webinar Series: Exploring the Transformative Power of Genomics in the Prediction, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Diseases
The “Genomics for Health” webinar series is a unique forum for academic researchers, industry professionals, and healthcare practitioners to come together and explore how genomics is reshaping the future of healthcare. From prediction and prevention to diagnosis and treatment — including drug development — this series highlights genomics’ transformative role in empowering patient-centered care.
Led by Vijay Tiwari, professor and head of research at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark, and Marc Sultan, principal leader of genetics and genomics at Roche, the three-part webinar series aims to inspire a global audience to harness the potential of genomics for innovation in healthcare. Together, Tiwari and Sultan will offer unique perspectives on how academia and industry can work together to advance genomics in precision medicine, driving meaningful conversations and actionable insights. Each of the three webinars will feature different speakers, who will discuss their current work, offering real-world case studies and identifying key challenges and opportunities for collaboration in the field of genomics.