Walking to Vladivostok, the most far away place from western Europe, is not entirely unlike the evolution of spatial biology imaging. Because in principle, you can always get your data eventually. The real question is how much time, effort, manual labour, optimisation, and suffering it takes to get there?

Current single-cell Omics technologies allow researchers to profile thousands of cells at once. However, the cell does not survive the measurement, obtaining only a detailed snapshot, which is not enough for many biological processes. The recent Nature Methods Primer presents an approach designed for this intriguing process.

Claudia Stäubert’s team synergistically used the CQ1 confocal imaging system and Celigo Imaging Cytometer to show how the location of the succinate receptor (SUCNR1) inside the cell shapes downstream signaling. Their work reveals how metabolism and localization together drive receptor function.

High-plex spatial biology is limited by legacy staining methods that introduce cross-reactivity, background noise, and panel-design bottlenecks. Beyond those challenges, newer multiplexing solutions could pave the way for more robust, flexible workflows that support the highest-quality spatial data.

What could be a better fit for cell microscopy than an entire miniaturized world? In May 2025, we invited a broad audience of cell imaging aficionados to a very special location for our science event to exchange, discuss and unwind after the SLAS conference in Hamburg.