Abstract

A significant frontier in Spatial Biology is the construction of an integrated view of tissue function within its native environment at the cellular and molecular levels. In this seminar, we will explore how the combination of nanometre-scale imaging modalities, AI segmentation algorithms, and protein-protein interaction mapping in human tissue models is providing a novel perspective on airway biology and creating opportunities for translational medicine research. The primary focus will be on the respiratory epithelium, a critical tissue that safeguards our lungs by serving as the first line of defence against bacteria, viruses, and particulate matter. We will provide examples illustrating how this multimodal spatial biology approach is revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying airway protection from pathogens.