Spatially-aware AI tools to map how cell states change inside tissue niches
Official title: Spatially-Informed AI to Dissect Complex Cell-State Transitions in Tissue Niches
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11434918 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-driven approach combines spatial and single-cell data to understand how cells change state within their tissue surroundings, with potential implications for cancer biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,725,379 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM166338-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11434918 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with cancers whose tissue architecture and microenvironment will be studied using tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer tissue cannot be studied or who are not involved in sample donation may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to study how a cell’s neighborhood within a tumor influences its behavior. It aims to develop new quantitative methods that jointly analyze spatial context and cell states to reveal niche-dependent dynamics. The goal is to identify early transcriptional changes, tissue-state biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets by understanding how location within tissue affects cell fate. The work could guide more precise hypotheses for how cancers initiate and progress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better biomarkers and new targets for cancer therapies by revealing how spatial context drives harmful cell-state changes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts have shown value in integrating scRNA-seq with spatial data, but comprehensive tools for joint analysis across niche contexts remain an area of active development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riesenfeld, Samantha Jean — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Riesenfeld, Samantha Jean
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.