Spatial omics can map how cells in our body talk to each other

Spatial omics allows scientists to map the molecular activity within tissues, revealing how cells "talk" to each other. By visualizing molecules like proteins and RNA in their spatial context, researchers uncover how cells coordinate immune responses or drive diseases like cancer, offering a groundbreaking view of the cellular "neighborhoods" in our bodies.

A key tool in studying cell communication with spatial omics is ligand-receptor analysis. Ligands are molecules that bind to receptors on neighboring cells, acting as messengers. By mapping where ligands and their receptors interact, researchers can decode signaling networks, revealing how cells influence each other’s behavior in health and disease.

But to achieve this we need broad spatial omics data from tumours and advanced computation methods. Owkin has built MOSAIC - the largest spatial dataset in oncology - and has pioneered state of the art AI and computational methods to analyse this data.

This knowledge helps identify novel drug targets, paving the way for transformative cancer therapies tailored to individual patients.