Despite significant advancements in molecular biology, achieving a holistic understanding of disease mechanisms and enhancing treatment efficiency in precision medicine and drug discovery remain formidably challenging. Spatial omics technologies have transformed our comprehension of the cellular and molecular intricacies of biological tissues, particularly for different disease contexts. These technologies enable the precise mapping of cellular constituents and their interactions within their native spatial environments, revealing critical heterogeneity and functional dynamics essential for effective treatments and drug development. Therefore, spatial omics technologies are particularly well-suited for making groundbreaking discoveries in immunology, where the spatial arrangement of cells plays a pivotal role in shaping immune responses and pathology. As an emerging frontier in drug discovery, spatial omics provides unparalleled insights into the immune landscape, complementing existing biochemical and cell biology-cased approaches by uncovering higher-order interactions between cells, and thus accelerating the discovery of novel targets for the next generation of (immuno)therapeutic interventions.

The goal of this research topic is to maximize the potential of spatial omics in drug discovery by harnessing its capability to offer a comprehensive view of cellular interactions and molecular distributions within tissues. While spatial omics is currently well-used as a characterization tool for profiling, its full potential as a discovery tool for precision medicine and therapeutics discovery is woefully underutilized . We therefore aim to harness the full spectrum of capabilities of spatial omics by strategically integrating spatial omics applications with other cutting-edge discovery technologies such as CRISPR gene editing, with 3D organoids as experimental models that accurately replicate complex tissue architecture, and with advanced bioinformatics methodologies and artificial intelligence to mine novel biological insights and generate sophisticated predictive analytics. This synergistic approach will enable a thorough, multi-dimensional exploration of disease pathogenesis, leading to groundbreaking insights and innovative therapeutic strategies. With recent technological advancements, such integrations are not only possible but also increasingly practical, setting the stage for profound advancements in understanding and treating complex diseases.

Topics of interest for this research include, but are not limited to:
-Spatial Biomarkers in Cancer Detection and Prognosis
-Spatial Biomarkers for Enhancing Immunotherapy and T-cell Vaccine Efficacy
-Bioinformatics tools and AI Algorithms in Spatial Omics
-Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets through Spatial Omics
-Integrating Advanced Technologies such as CRISPR and Organoids in Spatial Immunology Studies
-Semi-empirical methods for precision medicine and therapeutics discovery to educate spatial omics
bioinformatics analysis methods
-Spatial omics and integration analysis in immunological-related diseases

Dr.Lau Mai Chan has a provisional patent filed for Singapore, A*STAR ref: IP2024-030-01

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Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

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