This scientist is helping build a missing map of childhood

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 AUGUST 2026 —

Scientist Leads Push to Map Children’s Cells, Filling Critical Gap in Medical Research

“That’s when my little alarm went off,” she recalled. “Not again.” For years, Taylor had observed how medical research underfunded children’s health, treating them as “small adults” despite critical differences in biology. Children’s cells express genes differently, leading to varied—and sometimes dangerous—responses to drugs that adults tolerate. The 2017 talk became a turning point.

Taylor joined the Human Cell Atlas’s volunteer team, co-authored a white paper on pediatric inclusion, and rallied a coalition of researchers to advocate for studying children’s cells.

Her efforts bore fruit in 2021, when the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a $38.5 million grant to the Developmental Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (dGTEx). The initiative aims to create the first comprehensive database of healthy pediatric tissue, using samples from deceased children whose families consented to donation. By mapping how genes function across major organ systems, dGTEx provides a baseline for understanding normal development, disease, and drug efficacy in children.

Taylor’s role is pivotal: she curates and standardizes data tied to each tissue sample, including family medical history and sample details. Separate teams analyze gene expression, and the combined data feeds into the Human Cell Atlas, now expanded to include a pediatric section thanks to her advocacy. “Deanne took a big-picture view,” said Sarah Teichmann, co-founder of the Human Cell Atlas.

“We don’t just need to understand the pediatric kidney or brain—we need a holistic view of pediatric development.”

Taylor’s career reflects this interdisciplinary drive. Diagnosed later in life with undiagnosed autism and ADHD, she describes her path as a “random walk” fueled by relentless curiosity. By age five, she was reading medical texts; by 12, she devoured physics books. A PhD in biophysics led to work in rare-disease research at Pfizer, then reproductive medicine, where she helped develop early embryo-screening tools still in use today.

Her focus has always centered on why illnesses manifest differently in people—even when they share the same genetic variants.

The Human Cell Atlas, augmented by dGTEx’s data, could finally answer such questions. Unlike the Human Genome Project—which identified disease-linked genes but lacked a “manual” for how cells use them—the new effort maps gene expression across tissues. This is critical because gene activity changes with age. For example, chemotherapy can damage children’s developing hearts due to distinct cardiac gene expression, while some treatments trigger cytokine release syndrome, a potentially fatal immune overreaction.

The dGTEx database, which tracks roughly 20,000 genes, is just one of Taylor’s projects. She also leads the Kids First Data Resource Center, sequencing diseased tissues from pediatric studies nationwide, and collaborates on HubMAP, which aims to create 3D cell maps for children, mirroring adult efforts. “Much of human development happens in childhood,” Teichmann noted. “Key brain cells form in the first five years, and the immune system matures in puberty.

Understanding these changes is vital for disease research.”

Coordinating such a sprawling network is no small feat. Taylor oversees collaborations among nonprofits securing tissue samples, CHOP pathologists assessing quality, and institutions like the Broad Institute analyzing gene expression. “It’s like herding cats,” said Rebecca Linn, a CHOP pediatric pathologist. “So many individuals with different goals.” Taylor mediates disputes, ensuring data flows seamlessly into the Human Cell Atlas.

The stakes extend beyond research. Malaysia, like other nations, grapples with pediatric health challenges where adult-focused treatments fall short. Experts highlight the need for localized data to address regional disparities in disease prevalence and drug responses. While dGTEx’s samples are U.S.-based, its framework offers a template for global initiatives, including potential partnerships with Malaysian institutions studying tropical diseases or genetic disorders prevalent in Southeast Asia.

Looking ahead, Taylor envisions the Human Cell Atlas as a tool to revolutionize pediatric medicine. “We’re just older kids,” she said. “By ignoring the pediatric side, we miss a critical window for intervention.” With dGTEx’s data now publicly accessible, researchers worldwide can explore how gene expression shapes childhood health—potentially leading to safer drugs, earlier disease detection, and tailored therapies.

For now, Taylor remains focused on expanding the project’s reach. “The goal isn’t just to collect data,” she said. “It’s to create a resource that empowers the next generation of scientists to ask—and answer—questions we haven’t even thought of yet.”