Spatial omics technologies advance in cloud computing and clinical application

Developments in spatial omics are advancing both in computational accessibility and clinical application. Katana Labs has introduced Katana Edge, a cloud-native platform designed to simplify high-plex multiplex immunofluorescence and spatial proteomics analysis. The platform allows R&D teams to perform end-to-end analysis of ultra-high-plex whole-slide images and tissue microarrays directly in a browser, utilizing AI workflows for cell segmentation and feature extraction without requiring onsite computational infrastructure.

In clinical research, a team led by Professor Shi Peng at the City University of Hong Kong has developed Spectrum-FISH. This method aims to move spatial omics toward routine clinical use by providing a sequencing-free and amplification-free approach for tissue analysis. Unlike traditional technologies that require extensive tissue pre-treatment, Spectrum-FISH uses a molecular fishing strategy with vertically aligned nanoprobes that can be applied directly to freshly prepared tissue samples, such as human colorectal biopsies.