High-resolution tumor maps that show molecular and spatial details
A platform for multi-modal single nucleus spatial genomics for molecular tumor analysis
This project builds a lab method to map individual cells and their molecular states in patients' tumor samples to help enable more precise cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Broad Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144462 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to donate or allow use of tumor tissue so researchers can apply a new laboratory method called Slide-tags to map cells within the sample. The team will measure not just which genes are active but also DNA changes and epigenetic states from single nuclei, and link those measurements to the tissue's microscopic appearance. New computer tools will combine these layers to show where different cell types and molecular programs sit in the tumor and how they relate to treatment response. The goal is to make this multi-omic, spatial profiling routine across many tumor types so doctors and researchers can better understand each patient's cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with solid tumors who can provide biopsy or surgical tumor tissue for molecular and spatial analysis.
Not a fit: Patients without accessible tumor tissue, such as some blood cancer patients or those unwilling to provide samples, may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce detailed tumor profiles that help doctors choose more targeted therapies and spot early signs of resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Related spatial genomics and single-cell approaches have provided new tumor insights, but combining single-nucleus multi-omics with scalable Slide-tags methods is a newer and less clinically tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Broad Institute, INC. — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Fei — Broad Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Chen, Fei
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.