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A research team led by Prof. SHI Peng has introduced Spectrum-FISH, a sequencing-free and amplification-free approach designed to make spatial omics more practical for clinical settings.

Based on a “touch-and-go” molecular fishing strategy using vertically aligned nanoprobes, Spectrum-FISH can be applied directly to freshly prepared tissue with minimal processing, while preserving spatial information through a registration method that maps signals back to tissue structures and individual cells. The team validated the technique in developing mouse neural tissues and fresh human colorectal biopsy specimens.

Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering as “Sequencing-free spatial profiling of post-transcriptional regulation in fresh tissues using nanoneedle arrays”, the study highlights a potential pathway toward more affordable and scalable spatial profiling, including the ability to measure mRNAs, miRNAs and RNA methylation. A related US patent has also been filed, further highlighting the strong translational potential and promising future in precision medicine.

Press coverage:
(28 SEP 2026) CityUHK researchers advance spatial omics to routine clinical use [CityUHK NewsCentre]
(28 SEP 2026) 城大有望將醫學技術「空間組學」用於常規實踐 [Ta Kung Pao]
(27 SEP 2026) 城大「Spectrum-FISH」納米技術 檢測活體樣本更划算 [Sing Tao Daily]