Can AI uncover what a century of histopathology has missed? Dr Lloyd Steele explains how spatial transcriptomics reveals hidden immune memory niches driving eczema and psoriasis.
Artificial intelligence and spatial genomics are transforming how we study human disease, but what happens when they reveal biology that has remained invisible for over a century of conventional histopathology?
In this episode of Immunity by Design, I speak with Dr Lloyd Steele (Wellcome Sanger Institute & University of Cambridge), lead author of a groundbreaking study that combines single-cell genomics, high-plex spatial transcriptomics, AI-driven spatial analysis, and digital pathology to construct an atlas of more than 5 million human skin cells across health, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and psoriasis.
Together, we explore how advanced computational approaches uncovered previously hidden immune memory niches embedded within the skin, specialized microenvironments that may explain why inflammatory skin diseases repeatedly return to the same locations even after successful treatment.
Topics discussed include:
• Why traditional histopathology cannot fully capture the molecular organization of inflamed tissues.
• How AI and spatial transcriptomics reveal biologically meaningful tissue architecture beyond what the human eye can see.
• The role of resident memory T cells in inflammatory relapse.
• Hidden immune niches within sebaceous glands and sweat glands.
• New insights into immune memory in eczema and psoriasis.
• The promise of atlas-scale biology for precision medicine.
• How AI, spatial biology, and computational immunology are reshaping disease research and drug discovery.
• The future of multidisciplinary research at the intersection of immunology, genomics, and artificial intelligence.
Whether you are an immunologist, clinician, computational biologist, AI researcher, dermatologist, or simply interested in how emerging technologies are changing biomedical science, this episode offers an accessible yet in-depth discussion of one of the most exciting advances in spatial immunology.
Featured study:
Steele L. et al. A spatial atlas of human skin reveals immune memory niches in inflammatory skin disease. bioRxiv (2026). https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.20.713219v1
About Immunity by Design:
Immunity by Design is a podcast exploring the intersection of immunology, artificial intelligence, data science, biotechnology, and medicine. Each episode features leading scientists and innovators discussing the discoveries, technologies, and ideas that are shaping the future of human health.
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Music: “Minimal” by paulyudin, sourced from Pixabay and used under the Pixabay Content License (royalty-free for commercial use).
