New Capability for Spatial Molecular Imaging at King's College London

近年来，技术的进步为研究人员提供了同时绘制组织内许多分子分布的机会。CosMx空间分子成像仪是最新一代仪器之一，首次可以在3D环境下一次绘制单个细胞内数千个分子的位置。在这项提案中，我们打算购买一个CosMx，这样我们就可以用它来加深我们对单个细胞如何与它们的邻居和环境相互作用，以及细胞如何组织成组织和器官的理解。最终，这些空间信息将为人类生活所必需的生物功能提供见解。我们的研究旨在更深入地研究细胞之间复杂的相互作用，以及它们的相互作用可能失败的方式。这将进一步加深我们对人类如何发展以及疾病如何产生和发展的认识。它将帮助我们建立更好的治疗方法和新疗法，比如那些使失去的器官功能再生的疗法。我们已经向伦敦国王学院的研究小组分发了一份调查问卷，以评估对这种仪器的需求。根据调查结果，来自19个系和3个学院的50名学者将使用CosMx来探索1000多个样本，进而推进医疗保健研究。通过获得这台仪器并建立基础设施来分析来自CosMx的数据，我们将获得无与伦比的知识体系。这些项目包括开发医学研究的新方法，提高对细胞之间相互作用的理解，发展癌症、心血管和神经退行性疾病的知识，以及确定再生器官和恢复其原始功能的新药和方法。在伦敦国王学院，我们已经建立了与CosMx互补的其他技术。我们计划建立一个包括CosMx在内的新设施，这样研究人员就可以很容易地访问它。我们还将向伦敦国王学院以及整个伦敦和英格兰东南部地区的研究人员推广这一最先进仪器的能力。我们的目标是为研究界最大限度地利用这一工具。伦敦国王学院高度支持这一举措，提供了20%的仪器购置费用，并为其长期可持续性提供了大量支持。此外，此次收购将促进独特的合格博士后研究员和技术和研究技术专业人员的职业发展潜力。

In recent years, advances in technology have provided researchers with the opportunity to map the distribution of many molecules simultaneously within a tissue. CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager is one of the newest generation instruments that can for the first time map the location of thousands of molecules at a time within individual cells in a 3D context.In this proposal, we intend to purchase a CosMx, so that we can use it to enhance our understanding of how individual cells interact with their neighbours and their environment, and how cells organise themselves into tissues and organs. Ultimately, this spatial information will provide insights into biological functions necessary to human life. Our research aims to dig deeper into the study of complex interactions between cells and the way in which their interaction may fail. This will further our knowledge of how humans develop, and how diseases arise and progress. It will help us build better treatments and new therapies, such as those to regenerate lost organ function. We have circulated a survey to research groups within King's College London to gauge the need for this instrument. Based on the survey's results, 50 academics across 19 departments and 3 faculties will use CosMx to explore over 1000 samples and, in turn,advance healthcare research. By acquiring this instrument and setting up the infrastructure to analyse data from CosMx, we will enable an unrivalled body of knowledge. These projects include the development of new methods for medical research, improving understanding of the interaction between cells, developing knowledge for cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as identifying new drugs and approaches to regenerate organs and restore their original functionality.At King's College London, we have established other technologies that are complementary to CosMx. We plan to establish a new facility which will include CosMx, so researchers will be able to easily access it. We will also promote the capability of this state-of-the-art instrument to researchers at King's College London, and throughout the local area of London and SE of England. Our objective is to maximise the benefits of this instrument for the research community. King's College London is highly supportive of this initiative providing a 20% contribution over the cost of instrument acquisition and substantial support for its long term sustainability. Moreover, this acquisition will promote the potential of uniquely qualified post-doctoral fellows and technical and research technical professionals to develop in their careers.