Queensland Spatial Biology Centre

Our research, conducted within the QSBC, has unveiled a ground-breaking pathology breakthrough that has far-reaching implications for personalised medicine. We employ advanced spatial mapping technology and digital pathology tools to fundamentally change the way clinicians understand and combat life-threatening diseases.

In Professor Fraser's words, “Spatial phenotyping and spatial omics are the future of biology”. These terms refer to a growing field that analyses the spatial distribution of cells and molecules within patient’s biopsy or surgical samples. This analysis provides invaluable insights into the organisation and interactions of these cells, offering a roadmap for tailored treatments that can target individual cells, organs and diseases to improve patient health.

The inspiration for this transformative approach emerged from Professor Fraser's involvement in the international COVID-19 Critical Care Consortium, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Despite collecting extensive clinical data on COVID-19, the consortium struggled to understand how different organs responded to the disease. Collaborating with Dr Arutha Kulasinghe, they developed a Google Maps-like approach, enabling researchers to visually zoom in and out and apply layers of filters when analysing tissue samples.

The talented researchers at QSBC have achieved a level of insight never before attainable. They can now expose the behaviour of individual cells and their interactions within the body. This breakthrough allows us to understand how each cell fits into the larger puzzle of the body’s biology and how various treatments can impact these interactions positively or negatively.

This ground-breaking research wouldn't be possible without the cutting-edge PhenoCycler®- Fusion System, a state-of-the-art machine in spatial omics technology. It is the only one of its kind within an Australian hospital and enables spatial phenotyping of countless cells at an unprecedented scale and speed. It was purchased following a generous donation from the Vidyajey Foundation. With the PhenoCycler, researchers can map millions of cells and their interactions in diseases across a single intact tissue section.

According to Dr Arutha Kulasinghe, the transition from traditional pathology methods to this advanced technology marks an essential paradigm shift. The high-speed scanning of tissue samples, combined with advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence processing power, produces images of cells that resemble satellite pictures of stars and galaxies in outer space.

Andrew Barron, the CEO of the Wesley Research Institute, believes that this research has the potential to revolutionise treatments across a range of diseases and conditions. Initially, the focus is on heart and lung disease as well as cancer, as these are some of the most significant health challenges facing our society. The collaboration between clinicians, scientists and biomedical engineers at QSBC, along with access to world-class clinicians and a vast patient population, positions us to make a significant impact.

The Queensland Spatial Biology Centre is on the cusp of something tremendous. Each patient is unique, and through our research, we are unlocking the intricacies of their biology to personalise therapies for a range of debilitating diseases. We are dedicated to creating a brighter and healthier future for those battling these conditions, one cell at a time.

Welcome to the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC), a ground-breaking research hub that is reshaping the future of healthcare through cutting-edge spatial biology techniques. Our team of exceptional researchers, led by Professor John Fraser and Dr Arutha Kulasinghe, is dedicated to unlocking the secrets of individual cell interactions, leading to highly personalised treatments for some of Australia's deadliest diseases, including cancer, heart disease and lung disease.