Foster City, CA — June 2, 2026 — Signios Bio, a science-first biotechnology company providing end-to-end multiomics services, today announced the recipients of its Xenium 5K Spatial Transcriptomics Grant Program, launched in collaboration with 10x Genomics.
The program was established to support researchers applying high-plex spatial transcriptomics to complex biological questions in human and mouse tissue. Awardees were selected based on scientific merit, study design, and the potential impact of their proposed research.
A total of six grants were awarded across three tiers:
First Place Grant Recipient
Zehra Ordulu, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Zehra Ordulu’s project uses spatial transcriptomics to study the molecular architecture of rare ovarian tumors. By profiling gene expression within distinct tumor regions, the study aims to better understand how shared genetic drivers lead to different morphologic features and clinical outcomes.
Second Place Grant Recipients
Yapeng Su, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center
Dr. Yapeng Su’s project uses spatial transcriptomics to investigate how the tumor microenvironment influences therapeutic T cell behavior in lung cancer. By combining CRISPR-based perturbation with spatial profiling, the study aims to identify signals that drive functional or dysfunctional T cell states, with implications for improving engineered cell therapies.
Rena McDonald, Neurona Therapeutics
Dr. Rena McDonald’s project uses spatial transcriptomics to study how transplanted human interneurons function and integrate within the brain in models of drug-resistant epilepsy. By analyzing both cellular identity and spatial organization, the study aims to better understand the mechanisms driving therapeutic response and support the development of more effective cell therapies.
Third Place Grant Recipients
Franklin Chien, Emory University
Dr. Franklin Chien’s project uses spatial transcriptomics to profile the tumor microenvironment across molecular subtypes of pediatric brain tumors (ATRT). By mapping gene expression within intact tissue, the study aims to better understand how microenvironmental differences influence disease behavior and identify new opportunities for targeted therapies.
Jennifer Richardson, Dren Bio
Dr. Jennifer Richardson’s project uses spatial transcriptomics to investigate how immunotherapy reshapes the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer. By profiling spatial patterns of immune cell interactions and gene expression, the study aims to better understand mechanisms of anti-tumor response and support the development of more effective immunotherapies.
Arianna Brevi, UC San Diego
Dr. Arianna Brevi’s project uses spatial transcriptomics to study how circadian gene expression patterns are organized within the colorectal tumor microenvironment. By mapping spatial and temporal changes across tumor and adjacent tissue, the study aims to provide new insights into tumor biology and identify patterns that may inform future therapeutic strategies.
The awarded projects will utilize 10x Genomics’ Xenium 5K platform, an imaging-based in situ spatial platform that enables targeted gene expression profiling of up to 5,000 RNA targets at subcellular resolution while preserving tissue architecture. The platform supports both FFPE and fresh-frozen samples, enabling high-resolution analysis of cellular organization, biomarker localization, and pathway activity.
As part of the program, Signios Bio will provide full-service support for awarded projects, including tissue processing, sectioning, sample placement, imaging, and data generation across two Xenium 5K slides per project. The Signios team will also support downstream bioinformatics analysis and quality control.
“We received a remarkable number of highly competitive proposals from both academia and industry,” said Harsha Gowda, Sr. Principal Scientist & Director of Research & Lab Ops, Signios Bio. “These selected projects reflect the growing demand for spatially resolved data to better understand complex biology, and we’re looking forward to supporting these teams as their work progresses.”
In collaboration with 10x Genomics, Signios Bio will work closely with awardees throughout each project’s lifecycle, from experimental planning to data analysis. Following completion, award recipients may have the opportunity to present their findings at future scientific events.
About Signios Bio
Signios Bio is a science-first multiomics services provider offering end-to-end support across spatial transcriptomics, single-cell sequencing, RNA sequencing, long-read sequencing, and proteomics. Based in Foster City, California, Signios partners with academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical researchers to design and execute studies from project conception through data analysis.
About 10x Genomics
10x Genomics is a life science technology company building products to accelerate the mastery of biology and advance human health. Our integrated research solutions include instruments, consumables and software for single cell and spatial biology, which help academic and translational researchers and biopharmaceutical companies understand biological systems at a resolution and scale that matches the complexity of biology. Our products are behind breakthroughs in oncology, immunology, neuroscience and more, fueling powerful discoveries that are transforming the world’s understanding of health and disease.