High-Throughput Spatial Omics

Cutting-edge Technology Platforms to Achieve Precision Medicine

Spatial Omics Services

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) is a groundbreaking molecular profiling method that allows scientists to measure all the gene activity in a tissue sample and map where the activity is occurring. ST experiment starts with a tissue section frozen that preserves the spatial architecture. GeoMx (from Nanostring) and Visium (from 10x Genomics) are the most widely used in ST and recent commercial platforms such as CosMx (Nanostring) and Xenium (10X Genomics) provide expression at a single-cell level. ASOC has all four platforms in-house and can provide quality services in ST. 

dna illustration

Why Work with Us

Expertise

  • Specialized team dedicated to support
  • Transparency and open communication
  • End-to-end service

Adaptability

  • Diverse services for all tech needs
  • Customizable options and rates
  • Open to faculty and external clients

Affordability

  • Services at cost (non-profit)
  • Centralization ensures top-tier equipment access
nanostring cert
10x genomics cert

Service Workflow

workflow step 1

Project initiation and experimental design

  • Project review
  • Platform and service overview
  • Sample discussion
  • ROI selection strategy
  • Timeline & costs
workflow step 2

Quality control and histology service

  • Histology instruction and consultation
  • Optimizing immunofluorescence morphology markers
  • Tissue process, if required
workflow step 3

Spatial biology platform run and high-throughput sequencing

  • Slide preparation
  • Platform operation
  • Readouts
  • Post-staining
workflow step 4

Bioinformatics data analysis and visualization

  • QC and raw data preprocessing
  • Expression normalization
  • Deconvolution/enrichment test
  • Support visualization
  • Data export and backup

Design Considerations for Spatial Omics Experiments

The contents in this section were adopted from Williams et al. (PMID: 35761361) and please read the paper for more information.

What is my experimental aim?

A. Hypothesis generating?

B. Hypothesis testing?

(See below for more information)

Can I use spatial transcriptomics?

I. Does my tissue need optimization?
II. Is there enough RNA in the sample?
III. Are my targets detectable?
IV. Are large numbers of replicates needed?

 A. Hypothesis GeneratingB. Hypothesis Testing
TargetMany genesFew genes
ResolutionBulk RNA-seq or 2-1000 cellsSingle-cell
AreaLargeSmall
CommentAvailable for XenograftsDetermine cell types with specific markers
PlatformsGeoMx DSP or Visium Spatial/HDCosMx or Xenium In Situ

Nanostring

GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP): the most flexible and robust spatial multi-omic platform for analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fresh frozen (FF) tissue sections. GeoMx is the only spatial biology platform that non-destructively profiles the expression of RNA and protein from distinct tissue compartments and cell populations with an automated and scalable workflow that integrates with standard histology staining. It uses fluorescent imaging reagents to visualize tissue and oligo-tagged reagents for expression analysis. After selecting regions of interest (ROI), DNA oligos are released, and collected in a 96-well plate. Expressions levels are readout using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) or nCounter and analyzed using the DSP interactive software.

Spatial Organ Atlas: a publically available resource for defining the molecular anatomy of tissues. Using a whole transcriptome approach to generate spatially resolved organ maps the Spatial Organ Atlas presents morphology-driven data at the molecular level within the context of each organ-specific substructure. 

Visit Nanostring's Spatial Orgain Atlas

Slide Preparation

GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) slide preparation user manual

See the Manual

geomx workflow

CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager (SMI): the first high-plex in situ analysis platform to provide spatial multiomics with FFPE and FF tissue samples at cellular and subcellular resolution. CosMx SMI enables rapid quantification and visualization of up to 1,000 RNA and 64 validated protein analytes. It is the flexible, spatial single-cell imaging platform that will drive deeper insights for cell atlasing, tissue phenotyping, cell-cell interactions, cellular processes, and biomarker discovery.

What is the difference between GeoMx and CosMx?

GeoMx can be used to investigate up to the whole transcriptome of 18,000+ targets and >100 antibodies on the same slide. CosMx resolves RNA and protein expression at single molecule, subcellular resolution in situ.

 

cosmx instrument
geomx slide image

Slide scan image via GeoMx: user-defined ROIs (region of interest) based on the morphology markers for a kidney tissue

cosmx slide image

Image generated by CosMx: segmentation at the single-cell level on top of the morphology markers


10X Genomics

Xenium In Situ: it enables high-throughput subcellular mapping of 100s of RNA targets, revealing new insights into cellular structure and function. Tissue sections are placed on Xenium slides and treated to access RNA for labeling with circularizable DNA probes. Probe ligation generates a circular DNA specific to target transcripts followed by enzymatic amplification to create a target for fluorescent probe hybridization. The slide is then put into the Xenium Analyzer, where it undergoes rounds of fluorescent probe hybridization, imaging, and removal. This generates an optical signature that reveals the identity of the RNA at a location within each cell of a tissue.

Xenium panels are carefully designed and curated, incorporating a data-driven approach that combines expert input with years of single-cell experience. Customization is fast and easy, letting you add to existing panels or order your own standalone panels specifically tailored to power your research.

  • Human Breast, Brain, Lung, and Multi-Tissue/Cancer Gene Expression Panel
  • Mouse Brain Gene Expression Panel and Xenium Mouse Tissue Atlassing Panel
xenium instrument

Getting Started

Experiment Planning Guide for Xenium In Situ

Learn More

xenium workflow

Visium Spatial Gene Expression: a next-generation molecular profiling solution for classifying tissue based on total mRNA. Map the whole transcriptome with morphological context in FFPE or fresh frozen tissues to discover novel insights into normal development, disease pathology, and clinical translational research. Visium maps gene expression in complex tissue samples using poly(A) capture and spatial barcoding technology for library preparation. mRNA-binding oligonucleotides bind to capture oligos on tissue sections, and reverse transcription generates a cDNA library with complements of spatial barcodes that preserve spatial information.

Visium CytAssist: a compact, benchtop instrument that enables the transfer of transcriptomic probes from standard glass slides to Visium slides, enabling spatial profiling insights to be gained from even more samples. Compatible with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)- or immunofluorescence (IF)-stained tissue sections, CytAssist allows pre-sectioned tissues to be used for the Visium workflow. You can further maximize your Visium experiments by screening tissue sections using standard histological techniques to find biologically significant sections and then precisely align those sections within the Visium slide Capture Area using CytAssist.

Demonstrated Protocol

Tissue Preparation Guide for Visium Spatial Gene Expression Solution

Learn More

cytassist instrument
visium slide spec

Feature Comparison

Provider Nanostring   10X Genomics  
Platform GeoMx DSP CosMx SMI Visium CytAssist Xenium In Situ
Sample type Fresh frozen
Fixed frozen
FFPE
Fresh frozen
Fixed frozen
FFPE
Fresh frozen
Fixed frozen
FFPE
Fresh frozen
FFPE
Species Human or Mouse Human or Mouse Fresh frozen: Diverse
FFPE: Human or Mouse
Human or Mouse
Analyte RNA and protein: (a) Whole Transcriptome Atlas (WTA): 18,000 gene, (b) Cancer Transcriptome Atlas (CTA): over 1,800 genes, and (c) 100 proteins in predesigned panels RNA and protein: (a) Subcellular mapping of 1000s of RNA targets in predesigned panels and (b) Immuno-Oncology High-resolution Spatial Proteomics RNA and protein RNA: Subcellular mapping of 100s of RNA targets in predesigned panels
 
Area size 35.5 mm X 14.1 mm 20 mm X 15 mm

FF: 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm (4 per slide)
FFPE: 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm or 11mm x 11mm (2 per slide)

10.45 mm X 22.45 mm
Resolution Regions of interest (ROI) minimum, 5 μm × 5 μm and, at most, a rectangle of 680 μm × 785 μm, minimum 50-100 cells per ROI Subcellular 5,000 spots, spot size 55 μm diameter, avg 1-10 cells/spot, 14,000 spots per 11mm capture area - entire section at once Subcellular
Visualization Four-color fluorescence Four-color fluorescence H&E or immunofluorescence H&E (post Xenium processing)
Readout NGS or nCounter No need NGS No need