Gene sequencing services provider Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) has officially announced the launch of the StrataMap Spatial Solution. This end-to-end, sequencing-based spatial transcriptomics platform is designed to redefine researchers' ability to explore the full transcriptome in a spatial context with unprecedented breadth and resolution.

Previously known as the Illumina Spatial Solution, the StrataMap platform provides an integrated, complete workflow. It enables scientists to conduct unbiased, whole-transcriptome analysis of large tissue sections, within a 7.5 cm² capture area, at single-cell resolution. Compared to probe-panel-based alternative technologies, the sequencing-based StrataMap method detects over twice the number of genes per sample and is capable of uncovering hidden signals in non-coding genes and pseudogenes.

The platform sets new standards in throughput, speed, and accessibility. StrataMap can process over 2,000 samples per year, with sequencing times as short as 22 hours, enabling a complete journey from sample to data insight within five days. Critically, it integrates seamlessly into existing histopathology workflows and runs on Illumina's NovaSeq and NextSeq platforms, providing customers with an accessible entry point into spatial biology.

For bioinformatics support, StrataMap is equipped with DRAGEN and Illumina Connected Multiomics software. The DRAGEN StrataMap pipeline simplifies spatial exploration with machine learning-driven cell segmentation and transcript assignment, while the Connected Multiomics platform facilitates interactive, data-driven analysis, supporting the integration of transcriptomic data with genomic, epigenomic, and proteomic data.

Researchers with early access to the platform have already achieved significant results. A team from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) used StrataMap to map the human lymph node and construct a three-dimensional tissue model. A team from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and the University of Cambridge successfully tested the platform on primary central nervous system tumors, including glioma and glioblastoma tissues, providing new insights for precision surgery and personalized treatment.

The StrataMap Spatial Solution is now available for ordering, primarily targeting research fields such as developmental biology, neuroscience, and oncology. The solution currently supports fresh-frozen tissue samples from eukaryotic organisms. Additionally, Illumina is actively developing a specific solution for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, with an expected release to initial customers in 2027.