Mapping where genetic mutations appear inside human tissues
A Platform for Scalable Spatial Somatic Variant Profiling
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. · NIH-11330643
Develops a lab method to find and map genetic changes across human tissues so people affected by age-related or clonal cell changes may benefit.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11330643 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project builds a high-resolution way to capture DNA from intact tissue slices and read where genetic changes sit in the tissue. The team uses a technique called Slide-DNA-seq that sticks DNA onto tiny (about 10 micron) spatial barcodes so mutated cell clones can be located. By comparing the genetic map with the tissue structure, researchers hope to see how mutated clones grow and change nearby cells. The method is intended to work across many tissue types to help find clonal patches that could drive age-related problems or early disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who can donate tissue samples (for example from biopsy or surgery), especially those with age-related tissue changes or early precancerous findings.
Not a fit: People without available tissue samples or whose conditions are unrelated to clonal somatic mutations are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the method could enable earlier detection of harmful clonal expansions and improve understanding of how mutated cells disrupt tissue function.
How similar studies have performed: Related spatial genomics and spatial transcriptomics approaches have shown promise, but high-resolution mapping of somatic variants across tissues is still a new and developing area.
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.