Singhal lab
HuBMAP
The Human BioMolecular Atlas
Program
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP) to develop a framework for mapping the human body cell by cell.
HuBMAP utilizes the latest molecular and cellular biology technologies to construct high resolution 3D spatial maps of human organs and tissues.
Characterizing all healthy tissues at the cellular and molecular level will allow us to dramatically transform approaches in healthcare.
Groups involved in the lymphatic TMC include:
Boston Lymphatic Center; Principal Investigator Dr. Dhruv Singhal
​
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Spatial Technologies Unit; Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Ioannis Vlachos
​
University of Southern California; Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Young-Kwon Hong
​
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Department of Radiology; Co-Investigator Dr. Leo Tsai
​
University of Pennsylvania; Co-Investigator Max Itkin
​
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Co-Investigator Gordon Jiang
​BIDMC is leading the lymphatics HuBMAP consortium. This is the first HuBMAP group responsible for mapping the human lymphatic vasculature system at gross anatomy down to the molecular level. ​
We will receive a total of $4 million over four years to collect and analyze a range of lymphatic tissues from a diverse set of tissue donors.
Human healthy uterus​
(8 mm X 5 mm X 4 mm)​, Lyve1 staining (green)​, Prox1 (red)​
Video Courtesy Young-Kwon Hong, Ph.D.
The purpose of this study is to obtain and perform in-depth 3D cellular characterization of lymphatic vessels. Data is delivered to the HuBMAP Integration, Visualization & Engagement (HIVE) Collaboratory of the NIH.
​
Each sample is registered to the associated angiosome and undergoes spatial transcriptome analysis. Moreover, we perform 3D radiologic imaging of lymphatic collectors throughout the body.
​
​
​
Image of upper extremity peripheral lymphatics captures using magnetic resonance imaging.
Image courtesy Leo Tsai, MD, Ph.D.
Images of lower extremity peripheral lymphatics captures using magnetic resonance imaging.
Image courtesy Leo Tsai, MD, Ph.D.
Intra-operative photo under high magnification (40x)
demonstrating the arm lymphatic channel under white light (left)
and near-infrared imaging (right) confirming the channel as a
lymphatic vessel.
Image courtesy Dhruv Singhal, MD
Healthy Human Uterus Lymphatics ​
(after Tissue Clearing, PDPN-Staining, and Light-sheet Microscopy)
Video Courtesy Young Kwon Hong, Ph.D.​
The team hopes that these findings will shed light on causes of lymphatic diseases, such as lymphedema, which affect 200 million people worldwide and is often a long-term side effect of breast cancer treatment.
​
HuBMAP's support allows us to dive deep into discovering the origins of lymphatic diseases through mapping out a detailed anatomy of the lymphatic system.
Our work can be used to develop novel approaches to treatment, care management, and prevention.
Projections of Uterus
Lyve1 staining (Red)​, Prox1 (green)​
Video Courtesy Young Kwon Hong, Ph.D.​