CityUHK Researchers Advance Spatial Omics for Clinical Use
CityUHK researchers develop Spectrum-FISH, a sequencing-free method to bring spatial omics into routine clinical pathology.
In a significant leap for precision medicine, researchers at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) have developed a new method to transition spatial omics from complex research environments into routine clinical practice.
While spatial omics has revolutionized our understanding of cancer, immunology, and neurobiology by mapping where molecules are located within tissues, the technology has faced a major hurdle: complexity. Most current methods require expensive equipment, heavy reliance on sequencing, complicated tissue preparation, and massive computational power—barriers that make them difficult to use in fast-paced, real-world pathology laboratories.
Introducing Spectrum-FISH: A "Touch-and-Go" Solution
To bridge this gap, a research team led by Professor Shi Peng from CityUHK’s Department of Biomedical Engineering has introduced Spectrum-FISH. This innovative approach is both sequencing-free and amplification-free, utilizing a "touch-and-go" molecular fishing strategy that employs vertically aligned nanoprobes.
Unlike traditional technologies that demand extensive tissue pre-treatment, Spectrum-FISH can be applied directly to freshly prepared tissue samples. This preserves critical spatial information through a simple registration strategy, allowing scientists to map molecular signals back to specific cells and tissue structures with high accuracy.
Breaking Barriers in Accessibility and Cost
The research team tested the method on various samples, including developing mouse neural tubes and fresh human colorectal biopsies. The results demonstrated that spatial profiling could be made significantly more accessible by:
- Reducing dependence on sequencing: Lowering the barrier for labs without massive infrastructure.
- Minimizing tissue processing: Allowing for faster workflows essential for time-sensitive biopsies.
- Lowering assay costs: Making the technology scalable for broader patient access.
Furthermore, Spectrum-FISH’s ability to profile messenger RNAs (mRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and RNA methylation opens the door to spatial multi-omics without the need for large-scale sequencing infrastructure.
The Path Toward Precision Medicine
The study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, highlights the growing momentum toward the clinical translation of spatial omics. Professor Shi Peng emphasized that true biomedical innovation must prioritize practicality and accessibility.
"By simplifying workflows and reducing costs while preserving spatial insight, we hope Spectrum-FISH demonstrates how spatial omics technologies can move closer to routine clinical application," said Professor Shi. "Ultimately, we believe the future of spatial omics will be defined not only by how deeply we can map tissues, but also by how effectively we can translate those maps into meaningful clinical action."
The potential for real-world application is further underscored by a recently granted US patent for the system, marking a major milestone in the quest for more efficient and effective precision medicine.