A group of Bangladeshi scientists have achieved a significant milestone. They generated the first single-cell genomic data from Bangladesh for the Human Cell Atlas. The Human Cell Atlas Project is a global database, intended to identify and define all human cell types. This Bangladeshi project is called the ‘Global Pediatric Cell Atlas of Nasal and Oral Mucosa’ project. It was funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The project aims to create an atlas of the nasal and oral mucosa. Researchers are collecting and processing samples from children with and without viral infections in rural areas.
The research was in collaboration with partners from Harvard University and MIT. Single-cell genomics is a cutting-edge technology that allows scientists to study individual human cells. They provide key insights into how human cells function and develop. This initiative is crucial because most genomic data come from Western countries. By including Bangladesh, scientists can gather representative data from both the global North and South. This in turn will aid the equitable development of vaccines and therapies. Researchers working on this project are excited with their findings so far. They are furthering scientific data not only for South Asia, but also for the whole world.