Understanding how cells communicate with each other to fuel diseases such as cancer is at the forefront of the newly created Hub for Advanced Spatial Biology Analytics (HASBA), with facilities at Griffith University and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Griffith University and the University of the Sunshine Coast are partnering on HASBA which will leverage advanced spatial biology techniques and cutting-edge analytical approaches to not only understand how diseases are created in the body, but to also identify new treatments.
Spatial biology is at the cutting edge of biomedical research and allows for the characterisation of molecules and cells within their tissue environment.
Spatial methods had been awarded the scientific method of the year twice in the last five years in recognition of the advances these methods have had on traditional biomedical approaches to understanding disease processes and unearthing novel treatment approaches in chronic diseases, cancer and immune disorders.
Associate Professor Nicholas West from Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics and School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences said spatial biology techniques had revolutionised our understanding of disease processes.
“It presents new opportunities for the development of targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes, however, the complexity and enormity of this new data modality poses significant challenges,” Associate Professor West said.
HASBA seeks to confront this challenge head-on, leveraging the significant computational expertise of researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Computational Cancer Biologist Dr Lochlan Fennell from the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast Health Institute said the ability to analyse large scale data sets and images now represents the biggest hurdle for translating spatial data to the clinic.
“The widespread adoption of these technologies recognises the potential for spatial biology to have a significant impact in medical care,” Dr Fennell said.
“The realisation of this potential will require bringing together data scientists and computational expertise.”
Sunshine Coast University Hospital consultant hepatologist Professor James O’Beirne said: “I am excited about the possibility that spatial technologies will bring to understanding the interface of tumours and the immune system, and how we might be able to use these technologies to understand why patients respond to these therapies differently.”
Griffith’s Dr Amanda Cox, also from the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, said: “Complex genomic technologies involve many highly specialised skills which are difficult to find in one location.”
“This new initiative recognises that collaboration is essential for maximising research outcomes with a view to improving patient care,” Dr Cox said.
Dr Fennell said HASBA also seeks to democratise access to spatial biology by providing cutting-edge analysis services to academics, and clinical and industry partners, locally at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute and more broadly, that lack computational expertise.
This approach would allow investigators to focus on their specific strengths, while still benefiting from the power of spatial biology.
HASBA is currently leading the analysis of data from several major academic centres including the University of Melbourne, the University of the New South Wales, and the University of Sydney.
As the need for spatial biology data analytics increases, the HASBA initiative will ensure Sunshine Coast Health Institute researchers from Griffith University and the University of the Sunshine Coast are at the forefront of genomics.
The initiative will provide the basis for securing additional funding for new infrastructure and for data scientists critical to undertaking the state-of-the-art research.
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