International Spatial Biology Congress 2025

Nigel Jamieson

Professor of Surgery and Consultant HPB Surgeon, Group Leader of Jamieson Spatial Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow

Nigel Jamieson is a Clinical Senior Lecturer within the Institute of Cancer Sciences and an Honorary Consultant HPB surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He completed his undergraduate medical degree at the University of Glasgow when his interest in pancreatic cancer research began. He subsequently undertook a PhD funded by the Chief Scientist Office investigating gene expression signatures in pancreatic adenocarcinoma at the Beatson Institute. After completing his surgical training including observership periods at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore he spent an international fellowship year of pancreas and liver surgery in Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia where he gained significant experience in post-neoadjuvant therapy pancreatic resections as well as robotic surgery. He holds awarded a Clinician Scientist Fellowship by Cancer Research UK and upon returning to Glasgow was awarded a Lord Kelvin and Adam Smith Leadership Fellowship from the University of Glasgow.

He has contributed to over 140 peer reviewed publications and has an active role in the development and management of the Precision-Panc platform, his laboratory group focusses upon the interaction between the immune microenvironment and chemotherapy in the tumours of patients with pancreatic cancer. He has established a spatial transcriptomic facility characterising multiple malignancies, premalignant lesions, and inflammatory conditions using multiple single-cell spatial technologies. He works closely with Pancreatic Cancer UK and is part of a national group aiming to standardise care for patients with pancreatic cancer across the UK.

Francesca D. Ciccarelli

Professor of Cancer Genomics, Lead, Principal Group Leader, Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Bart’s Cancer Institute, The Francis Crick Institute

Francesca Ciccarelli is Lead of the Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational at the Bart’s Cancer Institute and Principal Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute. Francesca graduated in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Bologna and did her PhD at the EMBL in Heidelberg, where she studied the evolution of genomes using comparative genomics and phylogenetics. In 2005, Francesca started her independent research group at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan pioneering the use of genomics and systems biology to study cancer evolution. In 2014, she moved with her group to King’s College London and since 2017 they are seconded to the Francis Crick Institute. Francesca’s multidisciplinary team of biologists, mathematicians, oncologists, engineers, and computer scientists applies genetics, imaging and theoretical modelling to study cancer evolution in time and space. Francesca co-leads the Cancer Evolution Theme of the CRUK City of London Cancer Centre and her work is supported by Cancer Research UK, the MRC and the European Union.

Henrik Failmezger

Associate Director, Spatial Data Science, AstraZeneca

Henrik Failmezger has studied Bioinformatics at the Ludwig-Maximilians and the Technical University of Munich.
He completed his PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and the Universität zu Köln, Cologne, where he developed new methods for the analysis of microscopic time-lapse data.
As Postdoc at the Institute of Cancer Research, London and at Roche Diagnostics, Munich, he analyzed the spatial distribution of tumor and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. He is currently working as Associate Director, Spatial Data Science at AstraZeneca Computational Pathology GmbH, Munich in the field of digital pathology.

Thierry Voet

Professor and Director, KU Leuven Institute of Single Cell Omics

Thierry Voet graduated with a Master in Bioscience Engineering from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven, Belgium), and holds an inter-university post-graduate in Human Genetics. Following his PhD in the Human Genome Laboratory at KU Leuven, he pioneered single-cell microarray analyses, and in 2010, he joined in the Cancer Genome Project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute (Cambridge, UK) to explore next-generation sequencing technologies for single-cell genomics, which led to an Associate Faculty membership. In 2014, he became Associate Professor at KU Leuven following a tenure track, and was appointed Professor in 2017 and Full Professor in 2022. In 2021, he founded the KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO) together with 33 colleagues, of which he is the director. His research focuses on (1) the development of methods for single-cell and spatial multi-omics, and (2) their application to study the biology of cells in human development, aging and disease.

Chris Hanley

Lecturer in Quantitative Cell Biology, University of Southampton

Chris Hanley graduated from Imperial College London with a Biochemistry BSc in 2008. This was followed by an MRes (2011) and PhD (2014) in cancer research from the University of Southampton (UoS), including a period of study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following his PhD, Chris worked as a post-doctoral researcher at UoS-Cancer Sciences at Johns Hopkins-Centre for Cell Dynamics before appointment to his current faculty position as Lecturer in Quantitative Cell Biology at UoS. Dr. Hanley’s research aims to understand how the tumour microenvironment influences cancer progression. Particularly focussing on the the role of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). To examine these processes, state-of-the-art methods for analysing human tissue samples are used: including single-cell (sc)RNA-Sequencing; spatial transcriptomics; digital pathology analysis of multiplexed immunostaining and 3D organotypic co-cultures.

Konstantin Maksin

Locum Consultant Cellular Pathologist, Glangwili Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Dr. Konstantin Maksin received a Ph.D. in Medical Science from the Poznań University of Medical Sciences in Poland in 2017 and completed his special training in Pathology at the same department in 2016. He is a practitioner pathologist and researcher at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. His current interest, except daily practice, is focused on experimental pathology, computational/digital pathology, tumor-stroma and tumor-vessel relations. He is a collaborator of many scientific institutions both academic and med-tech corporations.

Miao-Ping Chien

Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator, Erasmus University Medical Center; Oncode Institute

Miao-Ping Chien received her PhD in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 2013, and went on to do a postdoc at Harvard University, working on technology development for biology (combining biophysics, advanced imaging, and computational biology). She joined Erasmus University Medical Center as a group leader in June 2017. Her current research focuses on developing and applying multidisciplinary technologies (advanced microscopy and imaging, computation, single cell technology and bioinformatics) to investigate the underlying mechanisms of tumorigenesis, particularly of rare cancer-driving cells. Since becoming a PI, Miao-Ping has received various awards and grants including NWO Vidi and Veni grants, Oncode Institute junior fellowship, KWF Dutch Cancer Society grant, Ammodo Science Award and Cancer GenomiCs.nl (CGC) fellowship. She is a founder of UFO Biosciences, which aims to identify actionable targets driving clinically relevant tumorigenic phenotypes.

Stephanie Craig

Lecturer in Precision Medicine, Queens University Belfast

Stephanie is a Lecturer in Precision Medicine at the Patrick G. Johnson Centre for Cancer Research, Queens University Belfast. She has expertise in applying and validating translational cancer research methodologies using molecular pathology techniques (immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridisation, multiplex immunofluorescence, digital image analysis) and statistics with a scientific interest in oro-digestive cancers (Head and Neck, Oesophageal, Colorectal). Her current research focuses on predictive biomarker studies and understanding confounding variables that influence the prediction of poor prognosis subgroups in cancer research including reproducible study design, choice of molecular test, and assessment criteria.

Victor Perez

Postdoctoral Researcher at Schapiro Laboratory, Heidelberg University Hospital

I received my BSc in Physics at UNAM, Mexico and MSc in biophysics at TU Dresden. I did my PhD research in the group of Prof. Dr. Ernst H.K. Stelzer in Frankfurt working on the topics of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and image reconstruction. I acquired experience in industry at BASF where I developed several image analysis and image acquisition workflows to accelerate and standardize data extraction routines. I am currently part of the Schapiro Lab in Heidelberg where my aim is to establish standard analysis pipelines for highly-multiplexed images of stained tumors.

Volker Bruns

Group Manager Medical Image Processing, Fraunhofer IIS

Dr. Volker Bruns (LinkedIn, Orcid) heads the Medical Image Analysis (MIA) research group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen, Germany, since 2018. The Fraunhofer Society is Europe’s largest non-profit organization for applied research and Fraunhofer IIS is the largest of all institutes. The MIA group’s research focuses on software and AI development in Digital Pathology and Spatial Biology. The range of services includes image analysis, contract RnD, and technology licensing. Most recently, the histopathology image analysis solution MICAIA® (www.micaia.ai), the manual whole-slide scanning software iSTIX® (www.istix.de), and the virtual ring trials platform ParasiteWeb (www.parasiteweb.com) were commercialized with partners. Between 2008 and 2018, Volker was active in the field of media technologies, where he completed his PhD on high throughput video compression on GPUs at the Ilmenau University of Technology. He previously graduated from Tampere University of Technology, Finland, and from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences with degrees in computer sciences.

Anders Eriksson

Lead Field Application Scientist, Canopy Biosciences

Anders Eriksson serves as the Lead Field Application Scientist for ChipCytometry instrumentation in Europe. In this capacity, he serves as a vital link between scientific tools and researchers, providing technical and scientific support to existing and prospective customers of CellScape. His deep interest in spatial biology and proteomics has been honed over a successful career in neuroscience, during which he worked at both the prestigious A*STAR in Singapore and Uppsala University. Anders holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Uppsala University in Sweden.

Brian Reichholf

Principal Scientist, Boehringer Ingelheim

Brian completed his PhD work at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology in Vienna, working on RNA biology and bioinformatics. He built on his interest in data analysis and AI during a short stint in the banking sector and is now a Principal Scientist at Boehringer Ingelheim, working in the department of Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, focusing on pre-clinical oncological translational science. Here he works on novel methods in digital pathology and analytical approaches to multimodal biomarker analysis, with the goal of translating the findings in the pre-clinical stage to clinical settings.

Marc Claesen

Chief Executive Officer, Aspect Analytics NV

Marc Claesen is the CEO and one of the founding members of Aspect Analytics. He obtained his PhD in machine learning at KU Leuven, focusing on scalable machine learning, modeling strategies for imperfect labeling and automation of data analysis pipelines. While completing a postdoc in bioinformatics, Marc developed a passion for leveraging data science & software engineering to support life sciences research. As a result, he co-founded Aspect Analytics, a software company focused on making tools to uncover the mysteries of spatial multi omics data analysis for key applications in life sciences, pharmaceutical and biomarker research. In his spare time, Marc enjoys trying to replicate complex restaurant dishes for his wife and children, and possesses the ability to make Dad Jokes at will.

Roberto Spada

Director of Marketing, Standard BioTools

Roberto Spada holds a PhD from the National Biotechnology Center-CSIC in Madrid (Spain), specializing in autoimmune diseases, with a particular interest in the types of cells that could be responsible for the initial development of lupus. After completing his studies in Madrid, with a brief stay as a visiting scientist at Guy’s Hospital in London, he has worked for Merck Millipore, Miltenyi Biotec, and since 2017 for Standard BioTools (previously known as Fluidigm), currently working as the Director of Global Marketing for the flow cytometry, spatial biology, and genomics product lines.

Dana Mustafa

Assistant Professor and Leader of the Spatial Biology Laboratory, Erasmus University Medical Center

Yunica Liu

Product Manager, SeekGene Biosciences

Yunica Liu is a Product Manager at SeekGene Biosciences, specializing in advanced biotechnological applications. She is engaged in the development and promotion of SeekGene’s single cell products. With a deep understanding of diverse single-cell and spatial transcriptomics techniques, particularly on microfluidic platforms, Yunica is dedicated to democratizing single-cell technology, making it more accessible and impactful in biological research. Her passion lies in driving innovation and fostering collaborations that push the boundaries of scientific discovery.

Eleanor O’Roberts

Researcher, SciLifeLab

Eleanor obtained her PhD from the Institute of Cancer Research (University of London) where she investigated the role of a long non-coding RNA in the regulation of MYCN protein in rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma. She then moved to Stockholm for a postdoc at Karolinska Institutet where her work involved characterising the role of non-coding RNAs and RNA-modifying enzymes in DNA repair. In 2021 she moved from the RNA world into the world of proteins when she joined SciLifeLab for a position in the Spatial Proteomics Unit, led by Charlotte Stadler. The unit uses state-of-the-art instruments to run multiplexed immunofluorescence projects on tissue samples as a service, providing users with high resolution spatial proteomics data. Eleanor’s work involves running user projects as well as internal research into novel uses of this technology and method development.

Philip Maini

Statutory Professor of Mathematical Biology, University of Oxford

Philip Maini has been working in the area of mathematical modelling in the life sciences for over 40 years. He is the Inaugural Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Oxford, and Director of the Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci). He has published over 400 research journal papers in using mechanistic mathematical modelling to address problems in developmental biology, wound healing, and spread of disease.

Christoph Kuppe

Professor, RWTH Aachen University

Dr. Christoph Kuppe, a physician scientist and Professor for Quantitative Cell Dynamics and Translational Systems Biology at RWTH Aachen University, spearheads pioneering research on cellular mechanisms in heart and kidney disease. His work elucidates the intricate cellular heterogeneity of fibroblasts in these tissues, identifying pivotal disease drivers. Dr. Kuppe and his team are experts in spatial multiomic data analysis, merging innovative approaches with extensive expertise in molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics. The collaborative ethos of the Kuppe Lab fosters interdisciplinary synergy, driving forward research initiatives targeting fibrosis, ageing, and cancer.

Mengxiao He

Doctoral Researcher, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

I’m a doctoral researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, under Joakim Lundeberg’s guidance. My work revolves around spatial transcriptomics, combining both method development and application in prostate cancer research. My goal is to develop new tools and apply currently available ones to gain deeper insights into disease progression, identifying lethal traits, and effectively pinpoint patients in need of treatment.

Lorenz Rognoni

Director of Image Data Science, Ultivue

Lorenz Rognoni is the Director of Image Data Science at Ultivue, a position he has held since October 2021. Before joining Ultivue, he was a Principal AI Scientist at AstraZeneca, leading the development of multiplex IHC image and data analysis pipelines for their Immuno-Oncology program and before that held several roles at Definiens, including Senior Team Manager of Image Analysis. Lorenz is a physicist by training and holds a Ph.D. in biophysics from the Technical University of Munich, where he studied single biomolecule mechanics using optical tweezers. With over 15 years of academic and professional experience in life-sciences data analysis and over 10 years of experience in the field of computational pathology and tissue biomarker development Lorenz excels in bridging life sciences and computer sciences to tackle complex problems. Lorenz is passionate about fighting cancer with artificial intelligence, computer vision and data science.

Fani Memi

Senior Staff Scientist, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Fani is a Senior Staff Scientist in Omer Bayraktar’s group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where she leads the Spatial Transcriptomics data generation while she implements and optimizes new Spatial Genomics technologies. Her research focuses on human brain development and disease. Prior to this, she worked as a Research Associate at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, UCL and University of Connecticut. She studied Molecular Biology and Genetics in Greece and completed her Ph.D at UCL studying neuronal migration in the developing mouse brain.

William McTavish

Technical Sales Specialist, Lunaphore Technologies

Will McTavish is a technical specialist at Lunaphore with over three years in the spatial biology field. Most of this time has been spent helping Biopharma companies adopt spatial-omic platforms to accelerate R&D and translational biomarker programs. Before joining Lunaphore, Will earned his Master’s degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario, where he focused on developing novel cancer immunotherapies. His academic background and professional experience make him a valuable asset in the intersection of spatial biology and immunology, driving innovation and improving therapeutic outcomes.

Francesca Trapani

Scientific Director and Head of Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Translational Medicine, and Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim

My entire career has been dedicated to the study of histopathology and all aspects related to tissue biomarkers in oncology and inflammation. After training as a veterinary pathologist and earning a PhD in environmental pathology, I joined the CRUK Manchester Institute. There, I led the discovery and validation of tissue-based biomarkers in both pre-clinical and clinical settings, with a focus on the pharmacodynamics of novel anticancer compounds and cancer biology pathways.

In 2018, I joined Boehringer Ingelheim in Vienna, where I serve as the Scientific Director of the Molecular Pathology Group within the therapeutic area of oncology in the Department of Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. This role has given me the opportunity to lead a dedicated team of scientists, focusing on the discovery and translation of tissue-based biomarkers in solid tumours. Our approach leverages AI-based methods to drive our research, reflecting the cutting edge of current practice.

Alexandre Denadai-Souza

Assistant Professor, Leader of the Laboratory of Mucosal Biology, KU Leuven

Alexandre Denadai-Souza obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. In 2019, he joined the Human Cell Atlas Initiative to map cellular and molecular perturbations underlying the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal disorders. In 2022, he was appointed as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at KU Leuven in Belgium, where he founded and currently leads the Laboratory of Mucosal Biology. His research focuses on elucidating how host-microbiome interactions influence human health and disease. His team employs advanced single-cell omics techniques and disease modelling with organoids to uncover these complex relationships. Over the last few years, his research group has sequenced over 1 million intestinal epithelial cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes in studies spanning fundamental research to clinical trials. His work is generating novel insights into the cellular heterogeneity of the human gut, both in health and disease.

Roderick Beijersbergen

Group Leader and Head NKI genomics and screening cores, The Netherlands Cancer Institute

Roderick Beijersbergen (PhD) is group leader at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and professor Functional Genomics at the University of Amsterdam. His research focusses on the development and application of large-scale functional genomic technologies, including RNAi and CRISPR, with the goal to identify novel and more effective cancer treatments. His group pioneered the pooled RNAi screening technology which has now been extended to CRIPSR/CAS9 genome editing based screening. His recent work uses advanced cell-based screening technologies allowing for the interrogation of spatial, dynamic and temporal phenotypes using high end microscopy. He is heading the NKI Robotics and Screening Center and the Genomics Core Facility in which high throughput screening, NGS, single cell and spatial omics are incorporated in the screening pipelines for the discovery of novel targets and mechanisms of resistance in cancer treatment.

Pacôme Prompsy

Computational Biology Researcher, Lausanne University Hospital

I graduated from Compiegne Technological University with a degree in bioengineering and from Cranfield University, UK, with a specialization in applied bioinformatics. I joined the Vallot Lab in Institut Curie, Paris, where I worked as a computational biologist focusing on single-cell epigenetics of triple-negative breast cancer. Two years ago, I transitioned to the Guenova Lab at the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Switzerland. Here, my research focuses on spatial proteomics, specifically studying inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous lymphoma.

Ellis Michiels

PhD Researcher, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Ellis Michiels is a last year PhD researcher at the lab of Medical and Molecular Oncology at the VUB health Campus in Belgium. Her project is focused on spatial mapping of the transcriptomic subtypes in pancreatic cancer. She has developed a clinically applicable multiplex RNA panel to quantify classical and basal-like tumor cells on paraffin sections (doi: 10.1002/path.6212). Apart from her experience with patient-derived organoids, she is particularly interested in the fast-evolving spatial omics field and is determined to proceed in this research area during her professional career. Ellis strongly believes that such technologies are indispensable to stratify pancreatic cancer patients in the future, guiding treatment decision.

Rachid El Morabiti

Business Development Manager, Canopy Biosciences

Rachid El Morabiti is a distinguished leader in Biotech and Medical Devices, based in Amsterdam. He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences from VU Amsterdam, along with business degrees from UC San Diego and UCLA. His expertise integrates scientific research with strategic business insights, advancing next-generation technologies. He has also contributed to virology and immunology research during his tenure at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology.
As Business Development Manager at Bruker, Rachid oversees the introduction of cutting-edge spatial biology instruments across the UK, Benelux, and Nordics, focusing on pioneering diagnostic tools and innovative medicines. His career includes key roles at NanoString, LUMICKS, and Illumina, where he facilitated the adoption of advanced single-cell and spatial analysis tools in academia, biotech, and pharma. Emphasizing strategic collaborations with top universities and hospitals, he fosters groundbreaking research. His deep technical expertise in molecular biology, genomics, and proteomics, combined with an extensive network, underscores his pivotal role in driving scientific innovation and enhancing research capabilities.

Alain van Gool

Professor Personalized Healthcare Radboudumc, Netherlands X-omics Initiative, EATRIS

	Day 1	Day 2
15 May 2025	Advanced Spatial Multiomics Techniques	Bioinformatics and Computational Tools for Spatial Data Analysis
16 may 2025	Application of Spatial Biology in Disease Research	Drug Development and Spatial Biology

4th International Spatial Biology Congress: Europe

Why Attend

01

02

03

Nigel Jamieson

Francesca D. Ciccarelli

Henrik Failmezger

Thierry Voet

Nigel Jamieson

Francesca D. Ciccarelli

Henrik Failmezger

Thierry Voet

Chris Hanley

Konstantin Maksin

Miao-Ping Chien

Stephanie Craig

Victor Perez

Volker Bruns

Anders Eriksson

Brian Reichholf

Marc Claesen

Roberto Spada

Dana Mustafa

Yunica Liu

Eleanor O’Roberts

Philip Maini

Christoph Kuppe

Mengxiao He

Lorenz Rognoni

Fani Memi

William McTavish

Francesca Trapani

Alexandre Denadai-Souza

Roderick Beijersbergen

Pacôme Prompsy

Ellis Michiels

Rachid El Morabiti

Alain van Gool

Nigel Jamieson

Francesca D. Ciccarelli

Henrik Failmezger

Thierry Voet

Chris Hanley

Konstantin Maksin

Miao-Ping Chien

Stephanie Craig

Victor Perez

Volker Bruns

Anders Eriksson

Brian Reichholf

Marc Claesen

Roberto Spada

Dana Mustafa

Yunica Liu

Eleanor O’Roberts

Philip Maini

Christoph Kuppe

Mengxiao He

Lorenz Rognoni

Fani Memi

William McTavish

Francesca Trapani

Alexandre Denadai-Souza

Roderick Beijersbergen

Pacôme Prompsy

Ellis Michiels

Rachid El Morabiti

Alain van Gool

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