A roadmap for the Human Developmental Cell Atlas

Abstract

The Human Developmental Cell Atlas (HDCA) initiative, part of the Human Cell Atlas, aims to create a comprehensive reference map of cells during development. This will be critical to understand normal organogenesis, the impact of mutations, environmental factors and infectious agents on human development, its relevance to congenital and childhood disorders, and the cellular basis of ageing, cancer and regenerative medicine. In this perspective, we outline the HDCA initiative and the challenges of mapping and modelling human development using state-of-the-art technologies in order to create a reference atlas across gestation. Like the Human Genome Project, the HDCA project will integrate the output from a growing community of scientists mapping human development into a unified atlas. We describe the early milestones achieved and the use of human stem cell-derived cultures, organoids and animal models to inform the HDCA, especially for prenatal tissues that are hard to acquire. Finally, we provide a roadmap towards a complete atlas of human development.