Spatial Solutions Service Line
Spatial biology is the study of how cells and biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins are organized and interact within their native tissue environment. Unlike traditional approaches that lose spatial context, spatial methods preserve the location of molecules. This reveals cell-cell interactions, tissue architecture and disease mechanisms that would otherwise be invisible.
Multi-omics takes this further by integrating multiple omics layers, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics and metabolomics, with spatial information. This enables researchers to link molecular identity directly to physical location, advancing the understanding of disease heterogeneity, tumor immunology, translational research and precision cancer therapy.
Spatial testing matters because it:
- Preserves spatial context lost in single cell sequencing.
- Reveals hidden biological patterns and molecular interactions.
- Enables insight into disease progression and treatment response.
- Supports environmental and population level health research through spatial analysis.
Multi-omics enables:
- Integrated genome, transcriptome, proteome and epigenome analysis.
- Identification of spatial heterogeneity within tissues.
- Construction of detailed spatial atlases.
- Mapping of tumor microenvironments and immune landscapes.
- Strong translational and clinical research applications.
Mayo Clinic's Spatial Solutions Service Line offers comprehensive testing services through three core facilities dedicated to this technology:
Spatial Biology Core
The Spatial Biology Core evolved from studying the relationship between how genes function during the process of transformation of normal cells to cancer cells. The core offers investigators tools and collaboration for conducting basic cellular research. This testing enables a better understanding of cancer cells and reveals possibilities for developing novel treatments.
The facility was one of the first to use NanoString Technologies' nCounter barcoding technology. This technology uses color-coded molecular barcodes that can hybridize to many types of target molecules.
Over the years, the core has done alpha and beta testing of most of the cancer-related products created and marketed by NanoString Technologies. One of the facility's major services is analyzing messenger RNA abundance in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded clinical samples.
The Spatial Biology Core has long had a productive collaboration with NanoString Technologies. The facility was one of four sites to beta test the GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling platform. Beta testing began in September 2019 and led to the first commercial instrument shipping in January 2020.
Since 2020, the core has used the GeoMx platform to process samples from solid tumors, including breast, lung, colon, pancreatic, hepatocellular and ovarian cancers, and cholangiocarcinoma. During processing, the core measures spatial expression of protein and RNA. Spatial context can refer to the 2D or 3D space within tissue. This helps researchers understand the complex interactions between cells and molecularly characterize processes, cells and genes.
Read more about the Spatial Biology Core.
Spatial Hybrid Core
The Spatial Hybrid Core at Mayo Clinic offers innovative tools using revolutionary technology for detailed spatial profiling of tissues. The core provides researchers with unprecedented insights into tumor microenvironments, immune landscapes, and the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression and neurodegenerative diseases.
Read more about the Spatial Hybrid Core.
Spatial Multiomics Core
The Spatial Multiomics Core provides cutting-edge spatial genomics, epigenomics and transcriptomics technologies and expertise. It supports patient-focused and experimental model-based biomedical discovery by developing and implementing integrated genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic approaches to interrogating cells in their native tissue microenvironment and offering these technologies as a core service to Mayo Clinic investigators.
This full-service core assists investigators with all aspects of their project needs from consultation and experimental design through data analysis and delivery of materials for grants and manuscripts.
Read more about the Spatial Multiomics Core.