Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Washington received a $2.1 million Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), awarded May 1, 2026, with completion targeted for April 30, 2030. The award supports the development of ultrahigh multiplexing (>1000-plex) fluorescent probes and associated methods for spatial transcriptomics applications. The primary deliverable is a set of over 1,024 spectrally and DNA-barcoded fluorescent probes designed for use in single molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) imaging to enable simultaneous labeling and visualization of up to 1,024 target mRNA species within both thin (~5-10 micrometer) and thick (>~200 micrometer) tissue samples in a single staining and imaging round.

This research addresses a significant gap in current spatial transcriptomics technologies by eliminating the need for time-consuming cyclic imaging protocols or complex sequencing approaches, while enabling analysis of thick tissue samples for which no commercial spatial transcriptomics solution currently exists. The University of Washington will synthesize, characterize, and make the probe set publicly available to the research community, facilitating advancement in cell phenotyping within tissue structure contexts for both clinical and research applications. This technology development initiative supports NIGMS's mission to fund fundamental biomedical research that establishes foundations for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.