Spatially-resolved transcriptomic signatures in archived mucosal biopsies to predict response to advanced therapies in ulcerative colitis

by Megan DeTrane |

For patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), finding the right treatment is often a painful game of trial-and-error. Advanced therapies are expensive and fail in up to 40% of patients, delaying effective care. We propose a solution: a precision medicine test that predicts which drug will work before treatment begins. Unlike current research that simply counts immune cells, our project uses cutting-edge spatial technology to create a high-definition map of the cellular neighborhoods within the inflamed colon. Think of it as upgrading from a simple list of residents to a detailed street map that shows who is talking to whom. By analyzing standard archived biopsy samples from 128 patients in Australia and South Korea, we will identify specific “resistance neighborhoods” that block drugs from working. This international collaboration combines Australian genomic expertise and the Australian IBD Microbiome (AIM) Study cohort with Korean clinical resources (Severance Biobank). Our goal is to translate these complex biological maps into a simple, affordable diagnostic test. This will help doctors make more informed treatment decisions, potentially saving healthcare costs and protecting patients from unnecessary suffering.