In this SBIR grant, AtlasXomics Inc. proposes to develop a novel spatialimmunophenotyping device that maps immune infiltrates in the mouse brain tumor microenvironment (TME) by spatially co-profiling ~20 immune surface protein biomarkers and thewhole transcriptome (WT) with cellular resolution. In collaboration with researchers at the NationalCancer Institute (NCI), we will demonstrate the ability of this device to richly characterize theirpotentially transformative immunotherapy for glioblastoma (GBM). Company founder ProfessorRong Fan developed the basis for the device, Deterministic Barcoding in Tissue for spatial omicssequencing (DBiT-seq), to enable cellular-resolution mapping of the whole transcriptome, high-plex proteome, and genome-wide epigenome.AtlasXomics proposes in Phase I to develop a next-generation immunophenotyping device tomap immune infiltrates in the TME by combining same-section WT and proteomic data. DBiT-seq's unique microfluidics approach enables co-profiling of WT and proteins. The next-generationimmunophenotyping device will build on the proven ability of protein biomarkers to characterizeimmune phenotypes by incorporating both cellular-resolution mapping and the discovery potentialimparted by same-section WT coverage.Aim 1: Develop a spatial multi-omics immunophenotyping device (proteome and wholetranscriptome) to identify and map immune infiltrates in the GBM microenvironment.Aim 2: Demonstrate application of the next generation immunophenotyping device bymapping and identifying immune infiltrates in NCI's GBM mouse model.After Phase I, we will have demonstrated that the next generation immunophenotyping assayachieves cellular resolution co-profiling of whole transcriptome and a tailored protein panel,thereby enabling mapping and characterization of immune infiltrates in the TME. This device willhelp improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying various immunotherapy treatments.Upon demonstrating the value of the novel spatial immunophenotyping device to NCI's vaccinedevelopment program, AtlasXomics will scale the product's throughput, robustness throughsemi-automation and advanced chip designs. An optimized mouse brain-specific multi-omicsimmunophenotyping device would enable cancer researchers to better understand how immuneinfiltration underpins cancer immunotherapy. A next generation immunophenotyping devicecombining cellular resolution proteomics and WT will become a standard tool to promote solidtumor cancer immunotherapy treatment development.
Public Health Relevance Statement: Narrative
This SBIR project would further develop a novel spatial multi-omics device designed to help
cancer researchers better understand how to enhance the immune system's recognition and
destruction of glioblastoma, a highly lethal brain cancer. In the long term, the device will also be
applied to other cancers.
Project Terms: | <µfluidic>
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