STAT+: Human Cell Atlas leader’s tie to 10x Genomics raises conflict-of-interest questions

The International Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Consortium is holding a significant meeting in Boston this week, marking a critical juncture in its decade-long mission to create a comprehensive map of all human cell types. This event features over two dozen leading academics and biotech executives, including Aviv Regev from Genentech, David Altshuler from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Eric Lander from the Broad Institute. The HCA is preparing to release a first draft of its single-cell atlases for major organs and tissues later this year, which is expected to significantly advance the understanding of human biology. The consortium's initial focus was on mapping healthy cells and their gene expression, but its next phase will delve into disease, requiring detailed knowledge of cell location, neighboring cells, and intercellular communication, a key area in spatial biology. This expansion occurs as the field is rapidly evolving with new technologies from companies such as Vizgen, Bruker, Illumina, Takara Bio, Bio-Techne, and 10x Genomics. Notably, 10x Genomics' single-cell RNA sequencing technology was foundational to the HCA's initial phase, presenting researchers with choices among various commercial solutions for future projects.