SAN JOSE, Calif., April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Complete Genomics, a leading innovator in genomic sequencing, today announced four winners from 30 applicants to its Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program. Winning projects address oncology, pediatric brain tumors, spinal cord injury and Alzheimer's disease.

As the exclusive U.S. distributor of STOmics' Stereo-seq technology for spatial transcriptomics, Complete Genomics launched the Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program and spatial certified service providers last year to promote advancements in spatial omics research.

"We designed the Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program to give scientists access to the most advanced spatial transcriptomics tools available," said Rob Tarbox, vice president of product and marketing at Complete Genomics. "The creativity and scientific rigor of the winning projects illustrate the enormous potential of spatial omics to unlock new insights in areas like cancer, neurodegeneration and tissue regeneration. We're proud to support work that will not only push the boundaries of spatial biology but also accelerate the impact of these discoveries on human health."

Winners of the Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program:

• Dorothee Günther, postdoctoral fellow, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Charles A. Ishak, assistant professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• John Kramer, associate professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia
• Richard Lu, scientific director, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's

"Spatial transcriptomics provides an unprecedented ability to map gene expression directly within intact and damaged spinal cord tissue, revealing how distinct cell populations and molecular pathways interact at and around the injury site," said John Kramer, associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics at University of British Columbia, who led one of the winning projects. "By preserving spatial context, this approach enables researchers to pinpoint region-specific responses, uncover hidden cellular heterogeneity and ultimately gain deeper insights into the mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury and repair."

About Complete Genomics

Complete Genomics is a pioneering life sciences company that provides novel, end to end DNA sequencing solutions. It has been at the forefront of high throughput cost-effective sequencing technology development since its inception in 2005. Our products have powered over 9,400 publications across a wide array of applications. To learn more, visit www.completegenomics.com.

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