Investment Powers the Debut of Pyxa: A Groundbreaking Platform for 3D Spatial Biology Research
BOSTON, Feb. 11, 2025 -- Stellaromics, a pioneer in 3D spatial biology spun out of the laboratories of Karl Deisseroth (Stanford University) and Xiao Wang (MIT and Broad Institute), today announced the completion of a Series B funding round in the amount of $80M. The round, led by Catalyst4 with participation from Stanford University Ventures, will support the development and commercialization of Pyxa, Stellaromics' groundbreaking 3D spatial biology platform.
Pyxa will empower researchers to make breakthrough discoveries that deepen our understanding of human biology.
Unveiled today, the Pyxa platform enables researchers to visualize and analyze the spatial organization of cells and molecules within thick tissue samples at an unprecedented resolution. These breakthroughs, based on the company's STARmap and RIBOmap technologies, greatly expand upon applications of traditional 2D methods by offering a true 3D perspective, providing researchers with a deeper understanding of tissue organization, cellular interactions, and disease mechanisms.
Key Features of Pyxa Include:
- Thick tissue analysis: Analyze tissue slices 100μm thick or more, offering a 10–20x improvement over current methods.
- Sub-cellular resolution, multi-omic spatial profiling: Simultaneously analyze the spatial distribution of hundreds to thousands of genes, enabling a comprehensive view of cellular interactions.
- Simplified workflow: Automated processes streamline sample preparation, data acquisition, and analysis, reducing researcher workload.
- Advanced visualization software: Intuitive tools for 3D exploration of spatial genomics data provide unprecedented insights into biological systems.
"We are excited to introduce Pyxa, a 3D profiling technology platform that will redefine the boundaries of spatial biology," said Todd Dickinson, CEO of Stellaromics. "By providing a true three-dimensional multi-omic representation of biological systems, Pyxa will empower researchers to make breakthrough discoveries that deepen our understanding of human biology and accelerate the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics."
With its ability to analyze both thin and thick tissue sections with sub-cellular resolution, Pyxa overcomes longstanding limitations in spatial biology, allowing researchers to explore cellular organization in ways never before possible. This advancement is already proving valuable across neuroscience, oncology, and immunology, where understanding tissue architecture at this level can unlock critical insights into disease mechanisms.
"As a scientific co-founder, it's incredibly gratifying to see this technology come to fruition and empower researchers to explore the intricacies of biology in 3D," said Xiao Wang, Core Member at the Broad Institute.
Initial users have already begun to leverage the transformative potential of Pyxa across diverse research areas:
- Nigel Jamieson, Group Leader at the University of Glasgow: "I'm thrilled by the potential of Stellaromics' 3D spatial transcriptomics platform to revolutionize cancer research. Its ability to analyze thick tissue sections in 3D provides unparalleled insights into tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment, including the progression of pre-malignant pancreatic cysts and the transformation of healthy liver tissue into tumors. The emergence of 3D spatial technology marks a transformative step toward creating comprehensive disease atlases, paving the way for more precise diagnostics and targeted therapies to improve patient care."
- Gordon Wang, Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University: "As an early user of the Pyxa platform, I've been impressed by its ability to deliver a comprehensive 3D perspective on biological systems. The platform is fundamentally useful, as tissue analysis is inherently three-dimensional. We're excited to continue partnering with Stellaromics to push the boundaries of scientific research."
- Xin Jin, Associate Professor at Scripps Research: "The transition from 2D to 3D spatial omics is transformative for neuroscience. While 2D methods provide molecular profiles, they miss critical long-range cellular interactions. We can now visualize these connections at an unprecedented scale, enabling high-throughput analysis of genetic perturbations across complex tissues. Combining CRISPR gene editing with high-resolution spatial analysis allows us to uncover new insights into brain development and disease progression in ways we never could before."
- Arpy Saunders, Assistant Professor at the Vollum Institute of OHSU: "We are thrilled to be among the first to utilize the groundbreaking Pyxa platform. A key advantage of Pyxa over other spatial transcriptomic technologies is its ability to analyze much larger tissue volumes per experiment. By enabling dense reconstructions of intact neural circuits in 3D, Pyxa will significantly advance neuroscience research, particularly for our laboratory's goal of reconstructing cell type-specific synaptic connectivity relationships in high-throughput by tracking the synaptic spread of viruses using RNA barcoding."
The Pyxa system is available for order now, with an early access program already fully subscribed and set to launch in the second half of 2025. Initial commercial shipments are estimated to begin at the end of 2025. To support researchers interested in generating pilot data for a Pyxa system, Stellaromics offers a dedicated services program. Stellaromics will showcase the Pyxa technology at the AGBT 2025 conference in Marco Island, Florida from February 23rd-26th.
About Stellaromics
Stellaromics is a privately held company dedicated to pioneering breakthroughs in 3D spatial multi-omics. The company's mission is to empower researchers with cutting-edge tools that illuminate the complexities of biological systems, enabling groundbreaking discoveries that improve human health. Stellaromics is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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