Jilin University Licenses High-Resolution Spatial Omics Detection Technology for RMB 4 Million

Recently, Jilin University released a public notice on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, in which the hospital intends to transfer its intellectual property through negotiated pricing.“Patent License for a High-Resolution Spatial Omics Detection Method for Tissue Samples”Relevant patents are transferred to industry partners for use, with a transfer fee of RMB4 million yuan. The inventor of this patented technology isProfessor Zhang Junhu and his team。

As a high-resolution spatial omics detection technology for tissue samples, this technique can be applied to research areas such as signaling pathway analysis in finely defined pathological regions, screening of diagnostic biomarkers, identification of drug-resistance loci, development of targeted therapies, and immunotherapy. It provides critical technical support for investigating disease pathogenesis and advancing clinical diagnosis and treatment.

As a core technology integrating digital pathology with imaging, spatial omics can precisely map key information such as gene expression and signaling pathway activation across different regions of tissue sections. It provides critical support for biomedical applications including the screening of diagnostic biomarkers, the development of targeted therapies, and the optimization of immunotherapy. Whether investigating functional zonation in complex tissues such as the mammalian brain or elucidating the intricate pathological mechanisms of diseases like cancer, spatial omics technology is indispensable.

In clinical and research settings, the need for detecting spatial heterogeneity in tissue samples is becoming increasingly urgent. For instance, significant differences exist in cell types and gene expression across different regions within tumor tissues; accurately capturing this spatial information is key to elucidating carcinogenic mechanisms and developing personalized treatment plans. In neuroscience research, high-resolution spatial omics technologies are also required to reveal the functional specificity of distinct brain regions. Currently, mainstream spatial omics detection methods are primarily categorized into four types:Spatial reconstruction methods, direct measurement based on laser microdissection, in situ omics based on fluorescent probes, and in situ capture technology based on oligonucleotide spatial barcoding.

However, existing technologies face numerous bottlenecks that are difficult to overcome.

First, the resolution is suboptimal.The widely used Visium product from 10x Genomics employs inkjet spotting technology, with a maximum array resolution of only 55 μm. Each spot corresponds to information from dozens to tens of cells, failing to meet the requirements for single-cell-level spatial omics analysis and easily leading to the omission of critical information.

Secondly, costs remain persistently high.In situ omics methods based on fluorescent probes require highly sensitive single-molecule fluorescence imaging systems and involve complex detection workflows; inkjet spotting technology necessitates full-length synthesis of oligonucleotide capture sequences at each array position, which substantially increases reagent costs and design complexity.

A more prominent issue is the severe cross-contamination.Permeabilization solutions, while facilitating the efflux of nucleic acid sequences from tissue samples, are prone to inducing lateral diffusion, which leads to cross-interference of spatial omics information between different regions. This issue is particularly pronounced in high-resolution detection scenarios. Furthermore, arrays prepared via inkjet spotting suffer from problems such as uneven modification and missing spots, compromising the stability and integrity of detection results. Certain technologies are limited by low throughput and operational complexity, making them ill-suited to meet the demands of large-scale scientific research and clinical applications.

These pain points severely constrain the widespread adoption and application of spatial omics technologies. The industry urgently needs a novel detection solution featuring high resolution, low cost, minimal contamination, and ease of use to overcome current development bottlenecks.

In response to industry challenges associated with conventional spatial omics detection technologies, such as suboptimal resolution, high costs, and severe cross-contamination, Jilin University has developed “High-Resolution Spatial Omics Detection Technology for Tissue Samples,” leveragingDevice Design, Molecular Markers, Contamination ControlThese three dimensions have achieved innovative breakthroughs, constructing“Precise Capture + Efficient Detection + Cost-Effective Application”an integrated solution that comprehensively revolutionizes the technical workflow and application experience of spatial omics detection.

Ultra-High-Resolution Breakthrough: Achieving Single-Cell Precision Localization

One of the core advantages of this technology lies in its ability to achieve detection resolutionElevate to the Single-Cell Level, overcoming the limitations of traditional technologies. Conventional mainstream technologies, such as the 10x Genomics Visium platform, offer a maximum resolution of only 55 μm, with each spot corresponding to tens of cells, making it difficult to accurately capture spatial omics information at the single-cell level.

This technology leveragesMicrowell Arrays and Unique Molecular Identifierscollaborative design, achieving0.1nm - 1000μmthe range of array line widths. In practical applications, the modification resolution can reach30μm, capable of precisely meeting the detection requirements at the single-cell scale.

Meanwhile, the spacing between micro-well reaction chambers is as low as 30 μm, with a modification density significantly higher than that of conventional methods. Combined with the dual spatial location information provided by the first and second positioning domains, this approach accurately maps captured omics data to specific spatial loci within tissue samples, effectively preventing the omission of critical information and providing more precise data support for studying mechanisms of cell–cell interactions.

Multi-Dimensional Cost Optimization to Lower the Threshold for Technology Adoption

By leveraging innovative design, the technology significantly reduces costs for both instruments and materials, successfully addressing the traditional challenges of “high cost and limited accessibility.”

In terms of instrument costs, expensive inkjet arrayers and single-molecule fluorescence imaging systems were abandoned in favor ofMicrochip Transfer Technology. High-throughput arrays of nucleic acid molecular identifiers can be fabricated through two microchip processing steps. Since the manufacturing cost of microchips is significantly lower than that of conventional equipment, the capital investment required for detection instruments is substantially reduced.

In terms of material costs, innovatively adopt"Two-Stage Molecular Identifier Combination"strategy, which avoids the cumbersome process of full-length oligonucleotide synthesis at each array position as required in conventional techniques. Only requires200 typesNucleic acid molecular identifiers, enabling the realization of10,000 unitsModification of bead arrays with distinct unique molecular identifier (UMI) tags significantly reduces the variety of capture probes required and their synthesis costs, thereby facilitating the broader adoption of spatial omics assays in both research and clinical settings.

Innovative Contamination Control to Ensure the Reliability of Test Results

By leveraging multiple design strategies, this technology fundamentally addresses the challenge of cross-contamination of omics information in traditional assays. On one hand, it selectsSlide with Micro-well Reaction Chamber ArrayAs the core device, it embeds tissue samples into microwells, establishing a one-to-one correspondence between the tissues and microcarriers to construct physically isolated detection units, thereby restricting the lateral diffusion of nucleic acid sequences. On the other hand, the surface of the microwells is covered withPorous Membrane, The pore size of this membrane is precisely engineered to ensure the smooth infiltration of tissue permeabilization reagents while securely confining nucleic acid sequences within the microwells, thereby preventing information interference between different regions. This dual-protection design effectively curtails the lateral diffusion of nucleic acid sequences during permeabilization, significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination and creating a stable environment for high-resolution detection.

Meanwhile, the molecular identifier arrays fabricated using microchip transfer technology exhibit uniform and consistent modification, thereby avoiding the drawbacks associated with traditional inkjet spotting techniques, such as uneven deposition and missing spots, which further enhances the stability and integrity of the detection results.

Broad Compatibility Features, Expanding the Boundaries of Technological Application

This technology demonstrates exceptional adaptability and scalability, meeting diverse testing requirements.At the level of sample compatibility,It is compatible with tissue samples from diverse organisms, including plants, animals, and fungi. It enables high-efficiency detection across fresh, frozen, fixed, or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. In addition to tissue cells, it is also suitable for omics analysis of various cell types, such as single-cell suspensions.

In terms of test targets,In addition to conventional mRNA, this technology can capture a variety of biomolecules, including DNA, tRNA, rRNA, viral RNA, proteins, and polysaccharides, making it applicable to multiple research fields such as transcriptomics, genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.

Furthermore, the operational workflow of this technology is relatively straightforward, requiring neither complex specialized equipment nor cumbersome procedural steps. It can be flexibly adapted to research scenarios in diverse laboratories and clinical testing needs, demonstrating broad application prospects.

As one of the core technologies in life sciences and medical research, spatial omics has become a key strategic focus for global research institutions and enterprises in recent years. Domestic and international companies are tackling technical challenges centered on improving resolution, reducing costs, and simplifying operations, creating a competitive landscape characterized by “optimization of traditional technologies + iterative innovation.” Related products have either achieved commercial deployment or entered clinical validation stages, with their technical specifications and research progress supported by clearly available public information.

GenoCare Spatial Omics Chip Series(Including models such as S/P/T/NT/TO, etc.) based on independently developedSURFSpace Spatial Chip TechnologyBy integrating high-throughput sequencing with high-precision spatial chip manufacturing processes, subcellular resolution is achieved—with a spot diameter of approximately 1 μm and a center-to-center resolution of 1.5 μm. The product offers diverse capture area options, including specifications such as 15 mm × 5.5 mm and 10 mm × 10 mm, while a larger 50 mm × 50 mm chip is currently under development. The chips feature high transparency, ensuring compatibility with H&E staining, fluorescence staining, and various microscopy techniques. They support customized probe sequences and are suitable for multi-omics research applications, including spatial single-cell transcriptomics, spatial ATAC-seq, and spatial proteomics. The entire product line has been commercialized, with clearly defined catalog numbers and specifications to meet detection requirements across different research scenarios. These products are now widely used in studies focused on the molecular distribution and functional analysis of tissue microenvironments.

Bio-TechneofRNAscope™ & BaseScope™ Spatial Multi-Omics Detection Solutions(Compatible with the Roche DISCOVER ULTRA Platform) This technology integrates in situ hybridization (ISH) with immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (IHC/IF) to enable simultaneous co-detection of RNA and proteins. Leveraging the Roche automated platform, it significantly reduces manual operation time. Through multi-omics joint analysis, it precisely characterizes cellular phenotypes, functions, and interactions within tissues, providing comprehensive data for elucidating tissue microenvironments in both normal and disease states. The technology focuses on spatially coordinated analysis of the transcriptome and proteome, achieving single-cell resolution. A new workflow compatible with automated platforms was launched in 2025 and has been marketed to the global scientific research community. Core principles and application cases are publicly disclosed through webinars and other channels, making it a popular tool in fields such as tumor microenvironment research and neuroscience. Currently, it is primarily used in research settings.