About

Spatial biology is an exciting and rapidly growing field that explores how cells, molecules, and tissues are organised and interact within their natural environments. Instead of just looking at individual cells or molecules in isolation, spatial biology takes a broader view, focusing on the bigger picture - how biological systems are arranged and function within the complex architecture of tissues and organs.

With cutting-edge technologies like spatial transcriptomics, proteomics and high-resolution imaging, researchers can now map out gene activity, protein distribution, and cellular interactions with unprecedented detail. This approach provides deeper insights into how cells communicate and function in different parts of the body, offering new perspectives in areas like neuroscience and developmental biology. By understanding these spatial patterns, we can uncover new pathways for disease treatment and advance our understanding of biology to a whole new level.

These transformative technologies produce multi-modal datasets at terabyte scale and are set to reveal how structure and molecular function are connected in a variety of organisms. Unlocking the full potential of spatial biology requires a generation of biomedical researcher, expert in software development and advanced AI. Our interdisciplinary Doctoral Focal Award aims to train these researchers to succeed.

For more information on spatial biology technologies and activities at QMUL visit our Spatial Biology Hub.

For a recent open access review articles on spatial biology visit:

• Spatial omics enters the microscopic realm: opportunities and challenges, Trends in Genetics, 2025
• Comparative analysis of multiplexed in situ gene expression profiling technologies, eLife, 2024