Exploring new horizons in scientific advancement: key highlights from The Spatial Biology Week™ 2023

In the world of scientific research, progress is relentless and ever-evolving. New tools, techniques, and paradigms emerge regularly, pushing the boundaries of our understanding. Spatial biology is currently revolutionizing how we explore cellular and molecular landscapes. From hypothesis generation to drug discovery, The Spatial Biology Week™ 2023, taking place virtually October 2-6, 2023, was a pivotal event that illuminated the promising future of this field. 

Session 1: Dissecting tissue and diseases: multimodal approaches for spatial analysis 

The five-day meeting’s opening session focused on the immense potential of combining the power of spatial omics with other cutting-edge technologies. Cells are part of a dynamic network where interactions between them and their environment play a crucial role in health and disease. Researchers are increasingly turning to a multimodal approach to gain a deeper understanding of this intricate web of interactions. This approach integrates multiple technologies, from single-cell analysis to spatial multiomics and multimodal imaging, to create a more comprehensive view of biological systems. Here are some key learnings from the session: 

• Multimodal approaches can support the understanding of the complexity of highly heterogeneous cancers, such as ovarian cancer and glioblastoma.
• Multimodal approaches can validate the expression of secreted proteins, study challenging markers, validate functional markers, or further characterize those markers.
• The limitation of tiny biopsies analysis can be overcome with the identification and profiling of spatially distinct areas of interest in glioblastomas.
• Quantitative assessments can be performed using spatial biology techniques on pathological samples from patients with infectious diseases.
• The combination of omics approaches can complement each other for cell identification, cell subtypes, and the identification of functional states.

Watch session 1 on demand here. 

Session 2: Navigating brain architecture with spatial cell profiling 

The human brain, an enormously complex organ, has captivated the imagination of scientists and researchers for centuries. Its complexity lies in its physical structure and the incredible diversity of cell types and molecular processes that govern its function. The Spatial Biology Week™ 2023’s second session unveiled the extraordinary potential of the field in shedding light on the brain’s inner workings. Learn how spatial biology supports neuroscientists in the validation and discovery of cellular pathways of brain tumors and diseases by: 

• Implementing single-cell analysis to study brain diseases.
• Analyzing the blood-brain barrier to understand how drugs can be delivered to the brain.
• Revealing underlying mechanisms of nerve functions in cancer therapeutics and cancer toxicity.
• Identifying conserved cellular mechanisms and immune cell infiltration in recurrent meningiomas.

Watch session 2 on demand here. 

Session 3: Spatial biomarkers for translational research 

The search for effective biomarkers has taken center stage in the quest for precision medicine and improved patient care. While traditional bulk analyses have made significant contributions, they have also faced limitations in capturing the full complexity of diseases and patient variability. Spatial biology techniques have emerged as powerful tools to overcome these challenges. The third session spotlighted how these techniques are revolutionizing biomarker development and starting a new era of personalized medicine. Watch session 3 on demand to discover: