Human Protein Atlas
The Human Protein Atlas is a non-profit, open-access research resource providing comprehensive human protein expression data across nine atlases (Tissue, Brain, Single Cell, Subcellular, Cancer, Blood, Cell Line, Structure, Interaction) to academic, pharmaceutical, biotech, and oncology researchers worldwide, funded by the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Human Protein Atlas does
The Human Protein Atlas is a non-profit, open-access research infrastructure initiative that provides comprehensive, standardized data on human protein expression across tissues, cells, and diseases. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden (with partner institutions in Stockholm via SciLifeLab, Karolinska Institutet, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology), the platform delivers nine interconnected atlases covering Tissue, Brain, Single Cell, Subcellular, Cancer, Blood, Cell Line, Structure, and Interaction data. It serves academic and life sciences researchers, pharmaceutical and biotech drug discovery teams, oncology researchers, and students/educators globally with freely available proteomics resources.
The technical core combines antibody-based profiling using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) with transcriptomics across 154 cell types and 34 tissues, supported by mass spectrometry-based proteomics and Deep Visual Proteomics (DVP) for single-cell resolution. Methodology layers include CODEX technology providing 46-marker multiplex tissue imaging and Tyramide Signal Amplification (TSA)-based eight-marker tissue-specific multiplexing. Version 25.1 (released 2026-05-25) catalogues 27,883 antibodies targeting 17,407 unique proteins, with 20,162 protein-coding genes classified across tissues and cell types, 572 cancer genes, and 854 FDA-approved drug target proteins mapped.
The business model is a non-commercial, foundation-funded open-access model with no subscription tiers, registration requirements, or paid services. Operating costs are sustained by the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation as primary funder, with operational hosting by Uppsala University through SciLifeLab and ecosystem integration with ELIXIR and the Global Biodata Coalition (which has designated the resource as a Global Core Biodata Resource). Distribution is exclusively self-serve through proteinatlas.org with downloadable datasets; reach is built through high-impact scientific publications, conference presentations, and educational content rather than commercial marketing.
Human Protein Atlas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Human Protein Atlas
- Legal name
- Human Protein Atlas
- Website
- https://proteinatlas.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Human Protein Atlas is a non-profit, open-access research resource providing comprehensive human protein expression data across nine atlases (Tissue, Brain, Single Cell, Subcellular, Cancer, Blood, Cell Line, Structure, Interaction) to academic, pharmaceutical, biotech, and oncology researchers worldwide, funded by the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Human Protein Atlas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Proteomics Research Database
- NAICS
- Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Proteomics & Biomarker Analytical Testing (HLAGADAG), Bioinformatics & Multi-omics Analysis Software (HLAGAJAD), Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Services (HLAGANAB), Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL), Clinical & Translational Informatics (Clinical Data Integration/Real-World Data for R&D) (HLAGAJAF)
Keywords
Where Human Protein Atlas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockholm
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Human Protein Atlas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Open Access Research Database: The Human Protein Atlas is a non-profit open-access resource funded entirely by the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation. No commercial revenue is generated; the platform provides free access to all protein expression data and tools for the global research community.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free open access for all users |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Human Protein Atlas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Human Protein Atlas is a free, open-access online database and knowledge resource providing comprehensive antibody-validated protein expression data across human tissues, cells, subcellular structures, cancers, and protein interactions. The platform integrates transcriptomics, antibody-based proteomics, and mass spectrometry to deliver nine interconnected atlases plus focused resources, supported by downloadable datasets and an educational resource library, all freely available to the global life-sciences research community.
Product overview
The Human Protein Atlas is an open-access, multi-module database platform consisting of nine core atlas resources (Tissue, Brain, Single Cell, Subcellular, Cancer, Blood, Cell Line, Structure, and Interaction Atlases) plus numerous focused resources. The platform provides comprehensive protein expression data across human tissues, cells, and diseases, using transcriptomics, antibody-based proteomics, and mass spectrometry. Version 25.1 covers 27,883 antibodies targeting 17,407 unique proteins. Key focused resources include the Druggable Proteome, Housekeeping Proteome, Human Secretome, Membrane Proteome, and specialized atlases for transcription factors, spatial transcriptomics, and multiplex tissue imaging. The platform is funded by the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation and hosted by SciLifeLab in Sweden.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tissue Atlas Profiles protein expression across human tissues based on transcriptomics, antibodies, and MS-based proteomics for global life-sciences researchers.
- Brain Atlas Provides protein and spatial RNA profiles of the human brain across microdissected regions for neuroscience researchers.
- Single Cell Atlas Provides RNA and protein profiles in human tissues and cells based on single cell and bulk transcriptomics as well as Deep Visual Proteomics for cellular-level analysis.
- Subcellular Atlas Delivers spatial, subcellular protein localization profiles in human cells based on antibody-based immunofluorescence for cell biology researchers.
- Cancer Atlas Provides cancer profiles based on transcriptomics, antibodies, and MS-based proteomics to support cancer researchers in tumor biology and biomarker studies.
- Blood Atlas Catalogs blood protein levels in health and disease using affinity and MS-based proteomics for biomarker and disease research.
- Cell Line Atlas Provides protein and RNA profiles across human cell lines, including the best model human cancers, for cancer and cell biology researchers.
- Structure Atlas Presents 3D structures of human proteins along with antibody-binding sites and genetic variants for structural biology researchers.
- Interaction Atlas Provides human protein-protein interaction data including 3D-structures and metabolic enzyme profiles for systems biology researchers.
- Druggable Proteome Analysis of proteins suitable as drug targets including FDA-approved drug targets and potential drug targets, for pharmaceutical and biotech researchers.
- Downloadable Data Freely available downloadable datasets of human proteomics data for computational analyses by researchers worldwide.
- Educational Videos Educational video content including the 'Proteins Unfolded' series that explains proteomics concepts for students, educators, and researchers.
- Multiplex Tissue Profiling Highly multiplexed tissue imaging using CODEX technology for detailed protein distribution and cell composition analysis in tissues.
Quantifiable outcome
- 27883 antibodies validated and catalogued for 17407 unique proteins
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Human Protein Atlas
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Human Protein Atlas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Human Protein Atlas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- SciLifeLab (Science for Life Laboratory)coreSwedish national research infrastructure for molecular biosciences. SciLifeLab provides technological capabilities and collaborative framework for advanced proteomics and genomics research conducted within the Human Protein Atlas.
- ElixircoreEuropean research infrastructure for biological data. Elixir provides data management standards, interoperability frameworks, and collaborative network support for the Human Protein Atlas as part of its core data resources.
- Uppsala UniversitycorePrimary host institution for the Human Protein Atlas project. Uppsala University provides academic infrastructure, research facilities, and institutional support for the project team.
- Karolinska Institutet (KI)majorCollaborating Swedish university contributing to research methodology, clinical translation insights, and biomedical expertise to enhance the Human Protein Atlas resources.
- KTH Royal Institute of TechnologymajorCollaborating Swedish university providing technological and computational expertise for data analysis, bioinformatics infrastructure, and system development.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Human Protein Atlas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Portal: Open-access resource cataloguing gene expression across human tissues. Highly comparable to HPA's Tissue Atlas in providing tissue-resolved expression data to the same researcher community using complementary transcriptomics approaches.
- Allen Brain Atlas (Allen Institute for Brain Science): Comprehensive open-access atlas of gene expression and protein data in the brain. Directly comparable to HPA's Brain Atlas in scope, methodology (in situ hybridization, antibody-based profiling), and open-access research infrastructure mission.
- BioGRID (Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets): Open-access database of protein-protein and genetic interactions. Directly comparable to HPA's Interaction Atlas, which curates human protein-protein interaction networks with structural annotations.
- ENCODE Consortium (ENCODE Portal): Open-access encyclopedia of functional genomic elements. Comparable to HPA as a large-scale, publicly funded functional genomics resource that serves as foundational infrastructure for the research community.
- ProteomicsDB: Open-access proteomics database providing mass spectrometry-based protein expression data across tissues. Closely comparable to HPA's MS-based proteomics resources, serving the same researcher base with similar tissue-resolved protein data.
- UniProt (UniProt Consortium / EMBL-EBI): Open-access protein knowledgebase providing functional information on proteins. Highly comparable to HPA as a foundational, non-commercial proteomics resource relied on by the same research community; HPA integrates UniProt identifiers in its search interface.
- Human Cell Atlas: International consortium building comprehensive single-cell reference maps of human cells. Comparable to HPA's Single Cell Atlas and Deep Visual Proteomics efforts — both target single-cell resolution human biology with an open-access research model.
Emerging players
- Olink Holding AB: Proteomics company enabling high-throughput targeted protein biomarker discovery. Comparable to HPA's biomarker/proteomics mission, but operating commercially and offering fee-for-service proteomics that competes for pharma attention against HPA's free Druggable Proteome and Blood Atlas resources.
Broad incumbents
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI): International open-access bioinformatics institute hosting multiple foundational life science databases. Comparable as a non-commercial biodata infrastructure provider; EMBL-EBI houses related resources (UniProt, Ensembl) that directly intersect with HPA's data integration workflows.
- Cell Signaling Technology (CST): Major commercial provider of validated antibodies, kits, and proteomics tools. Comparable in antibody-validation focus and protein-profiling services; CST's commercial antibody catalog broadly overlaps with HPA's 27,883-antibody open resource though their business model is commercial.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Human Protein Atlas social profiles
Digital presenceHuman Protein Atlas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Human Protein Atlas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Human Protein Atlas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Human Protein Atlas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Human Protein Atlas
What does Human Protein Atlas do?
The Human Protein Atlas is a free, open-access online database and knowledge resource providing comprehensive antibody-validated protein expression data across human tissues, cells, subcellular structures, cancers, and protein interactions. The platform integrates transcriptomics, antibody-based proteomics, and mass spectrometry to deliver nine interconnected atlases plus focused resources, supported by downloadable datasets and an educational resource library, all freely available to the global life-sciences research community.
Is Human Protein Atlas a public or private company?
Human Protein Atlas is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Human Protein Atlas founded?
Human Protein Atlas was founded in 2003. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Human Protein Atlas based?
Human Protein Atlas is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Human Protein Atlas make money?
One revenue line is on record: open Access Research Database.
Who are Human Protein Atlas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Portal, Allen Brain Atlas (Allen Institute for Brain Science), BioGRID (Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets), ENCODE Consortium (ENCODE Portal), ProteomicsDB, UniProt (UniProt Consortium / EMBL-EBI) and Human Cell Atlas. Olink Holding AB is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and Cell Signaling Technology (CST).
Does Human Protein Atlas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Human Protein Atlas.
What industry is Human Protein Atlas in?
Human Protein Atlas's product category is Proteomics Research Database. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGANAI, Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services, with a secondary code of HLAGADAG, Proteomics & Biomarker Analytical Testing. Its NAICS code is 621511 and its SIC code is 8071.