10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer - This grant application requests funds to purchase a 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer to enable teams of well- funded biomedical researchers who are experienced in single-cell transcriptomic approach to conduct spatial transcriptomics and proteomics on tissue specimens at a cellular and subcellular resolution at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio (UTHSA). This instrument will be housed in the Genome Sequencing Facility (GSF) at the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), a campus-wide shared core facility operated by a team of well-trained and experienced staff and bioinformaticians specializing in sequencing and genomics technologies. Since its inception in 2011, the GSF, with a variety of high-throughput sequencing and genomic instruments, has become a critical component for genomic research and collaborations within UTHSA and San Antonio. Currently, spatial transcriptome studies are conducted solely on a 10x Genomics CytAssist Visium System with limited resolution at GSF, and there are no other accessible spatial transcriptome platforms within UTHSA or the surrounding San Antonio institutions. Numerous basic, translational, clinical, and genomics studies at UTHSA rely on a robust spatial transcriptomics platform that is affordable, accessible, capable of high- resolution output, and supported by comprehensive bioinformatics tools for data analysis and visualization. The requested 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer will meet these requirements, thus enabling the GSF to provide high- quality spatial transcriptomics data to support NIH-funded biomedical research, benefiting 16 major users whose projects are in areas such as cancer, aging, pain control, immunology, diabetes, infectious disease, and neurodegenerative diseases, as detailed in this proposal. Our history and future planning demonstrate UTHSA’s strong commitment to advancing genomics research, fully supporting this grant application by providing the necessary resources for GSF's operation. Additionally, the new Xenium Analyzer will enhance educational programs for pre- and post-doctoral fellows, physicians, and research scientists, fostering excellence in genomics research and bioinformatics innovations at UTHSA. Thus, acquiring the 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer will significantly impact and expedite numerous NIH-funded investigations, promote genomic scientific collaborations, and accelerate translational research to improve the health of the predominantly Hispanic population in South Texas.
