The 100-plex spatial multiomics grant program
Advance spatial biology discoveries towards biological truth
About the program
The 100-plex spatial multiomics grant program offers researchers a rare opportunity to accelerate spatial biomarker discovery using the integrated seqIF™ and RNAscope™ HiPlex Pro workflow on the COMET™ platform. This program aims to empower scientists to explore tissue biology at unprecedented depth and precision and to advance spatial biology discoveries towards biological truth.
COMET™ is a high‑throughput, fully automated spatial multiomics platform that unifies off‑the‑shelf and custom antibody panels with RNAscope™ HiPlex Pro for high‑plex RNA detection. COMET’s end‑to‑end workflow automates staining, imaging, and image processing to deliver subcellular‑resolution, high‑plex spatial multiomics data in just a few days, providing insights that previously required multiple technologies or a combination of long, manual protocols.
The selected awardee will receive a fully-funded 100‑plex spatial multiomics run on their human FFPE tissue sample of choice, performed on COMET™ at no cost. They may choose from pre‑designed multiomics panels or collaborate with Lunaphore and ACD experts to craft a custom panel tailored to their specific biological question.
To further support long‑term research acceleration, the winner will also receive exclusive discounts on COMET™ instruments and multiomics consumables, helping them integrate high‑plex spatial biology seamlessly into their lab’s workflow.
No purchase is required to participate or win. For full terms and conditions, please see here.
Application process
Application submission
Submit your application by April 2nd, 2026. In the application, outline your project goals and describe how your research project will benefit from the spatial multiomics data generated on COMET™.
Shortlisting and announcement of winners
After an initial review, if you are shortlisted, you will be invited to a brief interview to further discuss the experimental design of your research project. This step helps ensure alignment between your goals and the program’s capabilities. Following the interviews, the winners will be publicly announced.
Project launch and execution
Lunaphore/ACD scientists will begin working on the projects, to generate spatial multiomics data as described in the project proposal. Regular progress updates will be shared with you.
Final report
Upon project completion, we will provide a detailed report, summarizing key findings and data generated during the project. This report will be shared with the winners for future use of this data in their research. We will also provide a 3-month access to our tissue analysis software, HORIZON™.
Apply now
FAQ
The 100-plex spatial multiomics grant program is open to researchers at recognized universities, research hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and contract research organizations. Applicants should have: 1) access to FFPE tissue samples, 2) ethics approval where required, and 3) a defined hypothesis or biological question that benefits from high‑plex spatial multiomics.
The 100-plex spatial multiomics grant program funds projects that leverage multiomics approaches to address complex biological questions. Projects should aim to advance understanding of human health, disease mechanisms, biomarker discovery, drug response, or other significant biological challenges.
Absolutely. The 100-plex spatial multiomics grant program offers access to a range of pre-designed panels, allowing researchers to start immediately with comprehensive spatial tissue analysis. These panels are tailored for integrated proteomic and transcriptomic profiling and can be used as-is to generate valuable single-cell data. Additionally, for those interested in customizing their approach, the program also supports the creation of custom panels, providing flexibility to adapt the workflow to specific research questions.
Applications are evaluated by a review panel, including scientists from the Lunaphore/ACD team. Review criteria include scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and potential impact of the proposed research.
Award announcements will typically be made within 4 weeks following the application deadline.
Yes, PhD students are eligible to apply, provided they have their institution's and principal investigator's support.
No, you do not need access to a COMET™ to apply for the 100-plex spatial multiomics grant program. If selected, your project will be carried out at Lunaphore’s laboratory in Switzerland using our state-of-the-art COMET™ platform.
You may submit one or two slides, and each slide may contain multiple tissue sections or samples. However, the 100‑plex spatial multiomics run will be performed on one selected slide, and results will be generated from that slide only. After the winner is selected, our scientific team will work with you to determine which slide is best suited for the 100‑plex workflow based on sample quality, tissue type, and your research goals.
You might need to follow specific guidelines for tissue preparation to ensure high‑quality results. The attached document provides a brief overview of requirements such as proper fixation and slide preparation. Please refer to the attached file for full details.
You might need to follow specific guidelines for custom antibody selection to ensure high‑quality results. The attached document provides a brief overview of requirements for custom antibody selection and validation. Please refer to the attached file for full details.
For inquiries about eligibility, timeline, or technical details, please contact [email protected]