The Human Cell Atlas project maps human cells to understand biology, address global health disparities, and advance personalized medicine through ethical and inclusive research practices.

An ambitious project launched in 2016 has made a dent in one of biology’s greatest challenges — with more than 3,600 researchers profiling more than 100 million cells.

"This landmark collection of papers from the international Human Cell Atlas community underscores the tremendous progress toward mapping every single kind of human cell and how th

Scientists from around the world are making headway in compiling a Human Cell Atlas -- a deep dive into the myriad types of cells in the body and their disparate roles in health and disease.

Researchers have created an early map of some of the human body's estimated 37.2 trillion cells. Each type of cell has a unique role, and knowing what all the cells do can help scientists better understand health and diseases such as cancer.

Scientists are creating what's being called a Human Cell Atlas, which could transform our understanding of the human body. The BBC's health and science correspondent James Gallagher explains the ambitious plan and what it could mean for the treatment of a range of illnesses and medical conditions.