The grant gives scientists better access to cutting-edge Stereo-seq technology to perform spatial single-cell whole transcriptome analysis for dissection of cellular organization in complex tissues

Shenzhen, 7th September, 2022 – BGI-Research has today launched the STOmics Grant Program – a global research grant to support scientists and researchers studying spatiotemporal omics by promoting access to BGI-Research's proprietary Stereo-seq, the leading spatially-resolved single-cell resolution transcriptomics platform. 

Stereo-seq (SpaTial Enhanced REsolution Omics-Sequencing) is a powerful research solution for advanced analysis of gene expression, enabling tissue-wide spatial cell type annotation for the deeper study of cellular organization, cell-cell interaction, functional networks, and spatiotemporal cellular dynamics. 

Identifying these spatiotemporal characteristics from specific cells within a tissue has significant implications for fully investigating physiology, development, and disease. Such insights will redefine how we understand our biology and life sciences in general, paving the way for a multitude of potential new applications in diverse domains from health to industry and sustainability.      

With this in mind, the STOmics Grant Program aims to provide the global scientific community access to cutting-edge Stereo-seq technology to open up a new universe of possibilities in genomics research. The grant supports a broad range of research areas to accelerate scientists' efforts in publishing their work and sharing new insights with the global scientific community.

"Spatiotemporal omics is the future of global life sciences research and will drive new revolutions across biology. BGI-Research has been a pivotal pioneer in this field, having invented the Stereo-seq breakthrough technology platform and demonstrating Stereo-seq's massive potential for solving biological questions, evidenced in our very recent landmark publications in Nature, Cell, and Science," said Weibin Liu, the special advisor to the Chairman, BGI Group. "Now with our STOmics Grant Program, we also want to support the global life sciences community to access Stereo-seq and further accelerate high-impact scientific discoveries." 

The grant will provide 12 Stereo-seq chips (1 cm2 X 12), up to a total of 5.4 Tb in sequencing data output (450 Gb X 12), and basic technical and bioinformatics support.

Applications open on 7 September 2022 at 7 PM (GMT+8 ) and close on 30 November 2022 at 5PM (GMT+8). For more information on applications and to submit proposals, please visit https://www.sto-consortium.org/grantprogram.html.

All applications will be reviewed by the STOmics Grant Program's scientific panel. Selection criteria include, but are not limited to, scientific impact, novelty, feasibility, and the applicability of Stereo-seq technology to the research.