Spatial Transcriptomics Expertise: An Interview With Dr. Wendy Teft

Wendy Teft, PhD, Vice President of Precision Medicine and Head of AcelaBio

AcelaBio, Alimentiv’s state-of-the-art specialty laboratory, specializes in delivering high-quality histopathology and precision medicine services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic institutions.

We have combined our histology expertise with the advanced 10x Genomics Visium CytAssist platform to offer a GCP/GCLP compliant end-to-end spatial gene and protein expression workflow, translating client samples into meaningful biomarker insights.

Wendy shared her insights on AcelaBio’s spatial biology services and the advantages of the 10x Visium platform.

What factors influenced AcelaBio’s decision to offer spatial transcriptomics services when it did?

AcelaBio, our state-of-the-art laboratory, has been a leading provider of histopathology and precision medicine services since 2021. We’ve always prided ourselves on being tissue experts, offering a comprehensive range of services from standard staining to advanced molecular pathology. But we recognized a growing need to provide even deeper insights into disease mechanisms at a cellular level. That’s why we invested in spatial transcriptomic technologies which allow for the analysis of the whole transcriptome at up to single cell resolution in intact tissue sections. The ability to support our clients from biomarker discovery to development fulfils our mission to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms and support the development of safe effective therapies for patients.

What were the key factors that led AcelaBio to select 10x Visium as its spatial genomics platform? Are there any plans to incorporate other technologies in the future?

We were early adopters of 10x Genomics’ Visium CytAssist platform for spatial transcriptomics, and we’re proud to be a Certified Service Provider. What attracted us to the Visium technology was its seamless integration with our existing CAP/CLIA certified anatomic pathology workflows. This allows us to offer our clients a comprehensive whole-transcriptome survey of spatially organized gene expression alongside detailed morphological assessments through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining on the same tissue sample. The recent addition of protein expression capabilities further enhances Visium’s value, enabling us to analyze the spatial detection of a panel of immune-related protein markers alongside the whole transcriptome within a single tissue section.

Does AcelaBio offer both the regular Visium assay and the Visium HD assay?

Yes, we support both Visium CytAssist V2 and Visium CytAssist HD workflows, providing our clients with flexibility and choice. As experts in tissue analysis, we offer complete end-to-end services for our spatial workflows—from tissue sample processing to bioinformatic analysis and data interpretation.

How does AcelaBio approach pricing for its end-to-end spatial transcriptomics services? Is it based on a per-sample cost, or are there different packages or customized options available?

Every spatial transcriptomics project is unique, so we begin with a detailed scoping discussion to understand the researcher’s specific goals and needs. This allows us to tailor a solution and provide a precise budget that aligns with their project requirements and scientific questions. The cost of a spatial project can vary based on factors such as customer’s scientific question, Visium technology, inclusion of pathology annotations, and the level of bioinformatic support.

AcelaBio’s spatial transcriptomics services likely attract interest from various sectors. Can you describe the typical clients who utilize your spatial genomics services? What types of organizations or research groups do you most commonly work with?

While we serve a range of clients, our spatial services are primarily utilized by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Our extensive experience as a CAP/CLIA accredited histopathology lab, with over 60,000 samples processed across 80+ clinical trials, has positioned us as a trusted partner for these organizations. To date, we’ve conducted spatial analysis on over 250 samples across 12 studies, demonstrating our growing expertise in this field.

Can you discuss the growth of AcelaBio’s spatial transcriptomics services over the past year? How has the demand for these services evolved, and what factors have contributed to this growth?

We’ve seen a rapid increase in demand for spatial transcriptomics services as researchers recognize the power of these technologies to analyze gene and protein expression with unprecedented spatial resolution. We’re committed to supporting this growing demand by continually refining our sample and data analysis workflows to provide clients with the highest quality spatial biology solutions.

How would you describe the current competitive landscape for these services? What are your expectations for the future growth and competitiveness of this market?

The spatial transcriptomics market is expanding rapidly, with growing interest from both discovery and clinical research sectors. AcelaBio has the expertise and capabilities to serve clients across this spectrum. Whether it’s supporting preclinical studies or providing spatial analysis for clinical trials, we offer tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of each project.