Scalable spatial transcriptomics through computational array reconstruction

Abstract

Spatial transcriptomics enables gene expression mapping within tissues but is often limited by imaging constraints. We present an imaging-free approach that reconstructs spatial barcode locations using molecular diffusion and dimensionality reduction. Validated against ground truth imaging, our method achieves high fidelity and scales to centimeter-sized tissues. This approach enhances spatial transcriptomics’ accessibility and throughput, enabling large-scale studies without specialized imaging equipment.