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Talking Techniques | Resolving spatial biology in neuroscience

In this episode of Talking Techniques, supported by Resolve BioSciences, we explore the realm of spatial biology, with a particular focus on the techniques involved in this approach to biological exploration, and the exciting insights gleaned from these techniques that have led to this approach being labeled Natures Method of the year 2020!

Stefano Pupe, Postdoctoral Researcher at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Bonn, Germany), takes me through this field, revealing – amongst other fascinating insights – the neuroscience studies that can now be conducted on live mice to monitor their neurological cell expression profiles as they perform specific behaviors. We also discuss the potential immortality complexes that could be driving a large amount of investment into the field and highlight some of the challenges to watch out for when conducting spatial biology studies.

Contents

  • Introduction: 00:00-02:20
  • The concept of spatial biology: 02:20-03:30
  • The key techniques involved in spatial biology: 03:30-05:10
  • What does the combination of transcriptomics and proteomic profiling enable you to determine: 05.10-06:00
  • Unique insights from spatial biology: 06:10-07:20
  • Spatial biology in the characterization of cells from the medial septal: 07:20-8:20
  • First impressions of working with spatial biology: 8:10-09:20
  • How many omic datasets you can generate from one tissue sample? 09:20-10:45
  • The impact of spatial biology in diagnostics: 10:45-11:50
  • Exciting breakthroughs in neuroscience from spatial biology: 11:50-14:00
  • Predicting neuronal activity with spatial data: 14:00-15:55
  • Developments in microscopy pairing with spatial biology: 15:55-18:05
  • The challenges of working with a new technique: 18:05-19:45
  • The role of automation in resolving with vast data sets 19:45-21:45
  • Why Facebook and Google are looking assisting with spatial biology: 21:45-24:15
  • What would you ask for to take spatial transcriptomics to the next level? 24:15-25:40
  • Challenges of reproducibility in an emerging field: 25:40-29:05
  • Final comments: 29:05-30:25

For more information on spatial biology, check out the rest of our In Focus on the topic, supported by Resolve Biosciences.