ESPACE

Diseases affecting the pancreas include pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a devastating cancer, and pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening disorder. Diabetes is an extremely widespread chronic condition affecting the pancreas. The goal of the EU-funded ESPACE consortium is to build a first version of the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) of the pancreas. Research will integrate molecular profiles, transcriptome and epigenomics data from more than 1 million single cells with tissue proteomics data addressing fundamental questions of cell phenotype, in healthy adults and during embryonic development. ESPACE will focus on types 2 diabetes in HCA work towards understanding pancreatic diseases. The creation of a first-of-a-kind comprehensive atlas of the human pancreas will advance methods and standards of high relevance for the HCA project in other organs too.