Comprehensive skin atlas across body sites and skin tones

Multiscale, Multimodal Analysis of Skin and Spatial Cell Organization

NIH-funded research Ge Medical Systems Information Technologies, INC · NIH-11190992

We will create a detailed map of healthy skin cells, lipids, and genes from people of different ages, body locations, and skin tones.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionGe Medical Systems Information Technologies, INC NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Niskayuna, United States)
Project IDNIH-11190992 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, researchers will collect small, carefully performed skin samples from four body areas (head and neck, back, abdomen, and extremities) and record basic skin and health information. They will use advanced lab methods to map which cells, molecules, and genes are present and where they sit in both 2-D and 3-D. The team aims to include people across the full range of skin tones using the Fitzpatrick scale and a range of ages to make the atlas broadly representative. This project focuses on healthy skin to create a baseline that can help explain aging, sun exposure effects, and differences by skin color.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults willing to provide small skin samples and basic health/skin history from specified body sites and who represent a range of ages and Fitzpatrick skin tones.

Not a fit: People with active severe skin disease, those unwilling to provide samples, or those unable to visit participating clinics are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: The atlas could help doctors and researchers recognize normal skin variation across ages and skin tones, improving diagnosis and guiding future treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Some prior skin atlases exist but are often limited in diversity or focused on disease, so this broad, multi-omic, 3-D mapping across skin tones is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Niskayuna, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.