The TISHUMAP (Target Inference from Spatialomics & Histology Using Multimodal AI & Phenotypes) study, a landmark collaboration between 10x Genomics and the ASTAR Genome Institute of Singapore (ASTAR GIS), officially launched on July 17, 2025. This ambitious initiative is poised to revolutionize drug target discovery and propel precision medicine forward, particularly in the realm of cancer and inflammatory diseases. At its core, TISHUMAP leverages 10x Genomics' cutting-edge Xenium platform, a spatial profiling technology that uniquely enables researchers to visualize and analyze gene activity directly within individual cells in their intact tissue environment. This is a significant departure from traditional methods that require tissue disaggregation, allowing for the creation of incredibly detailed, high-resolution molecular maps that reveal crucial insights into cellular positioning, interactions, and function within their native biological context.

The study will analyze a substantial cohort of up to 2,500 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) clinical tissue samples, focusing on prevalent cancers like gastric, liver, and colorectal cancers, which often exhibit distinct molecular profiles, especially in Asian populations. The immense datasets generated by the Xenium platform, which can profile thousands of genes at subcellular resolution, will be processed and interpreted using advanced artificial intelligence (AI). This powerful combination of spatial biology and AI is expected to accelerate the detection of critical patterns, leading to the rapid identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Beyond data generation, the collaboration will also focus on streamlining laboratory workflows and co-developing intelligent software pipelines for efficient data management and analysis. This includes the creation of custom gene panels tailored to specific research questions. Both 10x Genomics and ASTAR GIS emphasize that this partnership is not just about technological advancement; it's about addressing unmet medical needs and ultimately paving the way for new diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies that can deliver more effective therapies for patients. ASTAR GIS brings its leadership in translational genomics in Asia, complementing 10x Genomics' expertise in single cell and spatial biology innovations, creating a synergistic effort aimed at building the foundation for a new era of precision medicine.