# Multiscale, Multimodal Analysis of Skin and Spatial Cell Organization

> **NIH NIH U54** · GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC · 2024 · $750,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT (OVERALL)
Our vision for the Skin Tissue Mapping Center (TMC) is to create a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive, 2D and 3D
spatially-resolved multi-omic spatial atlas of normal skin comprising cell types, lipidomics, and
transcriptomics. Samples will be prospectively collected from four major body locations including head and
neck, back, abdomen and extremities across the continuum of skin colors (using the more objective Fitzpatrick
scale). Many of the original studies on skin cell types are now several decades old and conducted using
singleplex IHC or bulk genomic analysis. Although skin atlases exist, they are more focused on disease, and
tend to be lacking in diversity and variation of skin tones. Skin aging is a dynamic process in which there has
been little advancement in understanding how it varies as a function of skin tone and UV exposure. This novel
spatial reference map of skin cell types spanning skin tone and location will provide critical new insights into
healthy skin characteristics. Prospective sample collection provides the unique opportunity to custom build a
database with more extensive clinical information that may affect skin health. Although we will focus on
recruitment of an ethnically diverse population, patients will be standardized to the 6-point Fitzpatrick skin
color scale, which was originally developed to assess risk of UV damage from phototherapy. Using this scale
allows us to take a more objective approach to assessing differences in skin health and effects of UV and aging.
This program will be led by GE Research in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt)-Department
of Dermatology. Pitt-Department of Dermatology has access to a large patient and volunteer population with
diverse backgrounds, with about 20,000 skin specimens processed every year. We will leverage this population
to collect up to 96 well-curated samples from various anatomically-distinct skin locations (head and neck, back,
abdomen and extremities). Samples from donors across younger and elderly age groups and from persons of
diverse skin colors, as recorded by Fitzpatrick scale types I-VI, will be prospectively collected. GE Research will
be responsible for spatial single-cell analysis and integration of lipidomics and spatial transcriptomics into a
multi-modal 2D and 3D atlas of skin.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11158567
- **Project number:** 5U54AR081775-04
- **Recipient organization:** GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Louis D Falo
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $750,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-22 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11158567

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11158567, Multiscale, Multimodal Analysis of Skin and Spatial Cell Organization (5U54AR081775-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11158567. Licensed CC0.

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