MESH_CHIP | Spatial transcriptomics chips with sequencing-based microscopy

Summary
We propose a technology platform for low cost, high resolution spatial transcriptomics surfaces. Spatial transcriptomics is a high cost research methodology for resolving the spatial variation of genes in a tissue by capturing mRNA transcripts on a surface containing molecular address markers. To produce these surfaces, current methods rely on either printing technology with explicit assignment of unique address ID's to spatial locations or else random scattering of molecular ID's that are then sequenced in situ using microscopy. Both of these fabrication methods are prohibitively expensive and time consuming, such that spatial transcriptomic technology is still limited to a narrow selection of low throughput research applications. Our proposed technology, the MESH CHIP represents a radically different approach to producing these surfaces. Rather than print surfaces or build sequence-address maps with in situ microscopy, our technology works by self-assembly and deduction from sequencing data alone. This means that no prior information about the identity or location of address markers on the surface is needed prior to mRNA capture and sequencing. Instead, this information is reconstructed computationally using graph theory in a post hoc fashion. By moving this information roadblock in the fabrication process to the increasingly cheap sequencing and computing stage, we greatly improve the cost performance of this technology. MESH CHIP technology would represent a qualitatively lower cost product with greater performance than the state of the art, unlocking new use cases like diagnostics and high throughput tissue processing.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101138356
Start date: 01-01-2024
End date: 30-06-2025
Total budget - Public funding: - 150 000,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

We propose a technology platform for low cost, high resolution spatial transcriptomics surfaces. Spatial transcriptomics is a high cost research methodology for resolving the spatial variation of genes in a tissue by capturing mRNA transcripts on a surface containing molecular address markers. To produce these surfaces, current methods rely on either printing technology with explicit assignment of unique address ID's to spatial locations or else random scattering of molecular ID's that are then sequenced in situ using microscopy. Both of these fabrication methods are prohibitively expensive and time consuming, such that spatial transcriptomic technology is still limited to a narrow selection of low throughput research applications. Our proposed technology, the MESH CHIP represents a radically different approach to producing these surfaces. Rather than print surfaces or build sequence-address maps with in situ microscopy, our technology works by self-assembly and deduction from sequencing data alone. This means that no prior information about the identity or location of address markers on the surface is needed prior to mRNA capture and sequencing. Instead, this information is reconstructed computationally using graph theory in a post hoc fashion. By moving this information roadblock in the fabrication process to the increasingly cheap sequencing and computing stage, we greatly improve the cost performance of this technology. MESH CHIP technology would represent a qualitatively lower cost product with greater performance than the state of the art, unlocking new use cases like diagnostics and high throughput tissue processing.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

ERC-2023-POC

Update Date

12-03-2024
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Horizon Europe
HORIZON.1 Excellent Science
HORIZON.1.1 European Research Council (ERC)
HORIZON.1.1.0 Cross-cutting call topics
ERC-2023-POC ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS
HORIZON.1.1.1 Frontier science
ERC-2023-POC ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS