Gel-based method to map proteins, RNA, and DNA in whole 3D tissues at single-cell detail
Gel-based Optical-isolation Single-Cell 3D Spatial Multiomics
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · NIH-11014651
A new lab technique that preserves intact 3D tissue samples in a gel so researchers can read proteins, RNA, and DNA within single cells to better understand diseases like cancer and brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IRVINE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11014651 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project is developing a gel-based approach that keeps whole tissue samples intact while making individual cells optically accessible in three dimensions. The method combines expansion microscopy with molecular profiling to capture proteins, RNAs, and DNAs across whole-mount tissues at subcellular resolution. Researchers plan to apply the technique to samples such as tumors, brain tissue, and wounds to create detailed 3D molecular maps. The goal is higher coverage and throughput than current methods that mostly work on thin tissue slices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be patients able to donate surgical or biopsy tissue (for example tumor resections, brain surgery specimens, or wound tissue) to the research team.
Not a fit: People who are not undergoing tissue removal or who cannot donate samples are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the technology could reveal where disease-related molecules sit inside tissues, which may improve diagnosis and point to new treatment targets.
How similar studies have performed: Related spatial transcriptomics and expansion-microscopy approaches have produced useful 2D maps, but combining whole-mount 3D expansion with simultaneous protein/RNA/DNA profiling is a novel advance.
Where this research is happening
IRVINE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE — IRVINE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SHI, XIAOYU — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- Study coordinator: SHI, XIAOYU
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.