Evaluation of Noninvasive Biospecimens for Transcriptome Studies

This study explores the use of noninvasive biospecimens for transcriptome studies, aiming to enhance disease-relevant discoveries by enabling complex longitudinal designs and increasing sample sizes. Researchers collected buccal swabs, hair follicles, saliva, and urine cell pellets from 19 individuals over multiple timepoints, resulting in 300 unique samples and 472 transcriptomes. Hair follicles and urine cell pellets emerged as the most promising due to their consistent sample quality and relevant expression profiles. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using noninvasive tissues in various transcriptomic applications, suggesting their potential to advance clinical research and applications.