Northwestern University has launched SOAR, the largest open-access spatial transcriptomics resource to enhance drug discovery processes. Designed for researchers, SOAR enables exploration of gene behavior across different tissues, offering a detailed view of cell interactions. By aggregating data from 441 datasets, it provides insights into 3,461 tissue samples from 19 species, accelerating drug candidate prioritization and reducing the costs and time associated with clinical trials. Pharmaceutical companies are already expressing interest in leveraging this innovative tool for research purposes.
"It's too expensive and too time consuming to push thousands of potential drug candidates to the preclinical study and clinical trials," said Yuan Luo, PhD.
"This resource will help prioritize that... It essentially gives scientists a bird's eye view of cell interactions," Luo explained.
SOAR aggregates data across 441 spatial transcriptomics datasets from 19 different companies, providing detailed maps of gene activity across various tissue types.
Several pharmaceutical companies are already looking to use SOAR in their research, showcasing its potential impact on drug discovery.
#drug-development #spatial-transcriptomics #open-access-resource #clinical-trials #biomedical-research
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