SpatialP2PDissectOmics: Spatial Proteomics Reaches a New Milestone at ULiège
Thanks to a major €720,000 grant awarded by the F.R.S.-FNRS, the SpatialP2PDissectOmics project aims to revolutionize spatial proteomics. Led by a team of researchers at ULiège, in collaboration with other teams from national and international universities, the project will notably benefit from the acquisition of a new, ultra-high-resolution automated laser microdissector. This equipment, unique among Belgian universities, will enable the scientific community to access cutting-edge services by combining several technological platforms from the GIGA (Immunohistology, Cell Imaging, Proteomics).
The project is built on a multidisciplinary methodology, combining laser microdissection, MALDI imaging, and proteomics techniques (including single-cell analysis) to study the functional distribution of proteins directly within tissue sections. To implement this program, a new laser microdissector with ultra-high-resolution automated cutting will be acquired and integrated into the GIGA Cell Imaging platform. At the same time, bioinformatics resources are planned to facilitate the integration and deconvolution of data derived from microdissection, tissue imaging, and proteomics.
At the heart of the project lies the "Pixel2Proteomics" (P2P) method, developed at the MSLab-Omics by Associate Professor Gabriel Mazzucchelli’s team. This technique involves systematic pixel-by-pixel microdissection (around 10 to 20 cells per pixel) of a tissue section, followed by shotgun proteomics analysis of each pixel to identify and quantify a wide variety of proteins. This approach is also aligned with single-cell proteomics for even finer resolution, while the bioinformatics integration step will enable the reconstruction of spatial maps of various biological processes.
Three main research themes showcase the application of this technology:
- The study of squamo-columnar junctions, known for their high cancer susceptibility (cervical, anal, and esophageal cancers);
- The analysis of plant-insect interactions and associated microbiota;
- The exploration of the complexity of the microenvironment in colorectal cancer, including in inflammatory contexts.
A Promising Endeavor Based on Strong Interdisciplinary Synergy
Under the leadership of Professor Edouard Louis (ULiège), several co-principal investigators with diverse expertises will collaborate closely: Professor Frédéric Francis (entomology), Associate Professor Michael Herfs (experimental pathology), Associate Professor Gabriel Mazzucchelli (proteomics), Professor Laurent Gatto (bioinformatics, UCL), and Professor Ruddy Wattiez (proteomics analysis, UMONS). This network extends internationally through collaboration with leading researchers such as Isabelle Fournier (Co-director of PRISM – Inserm U1192 – University of Lille, France) and Prof. Dr. Ron M.A. Heeren (Director of M4I, Maastricht University, Netherlands), further enhancing the reach and expertise-sharing within this field.
SpatialP2PDissectOmics is part of a coherent group of recent public investments, such as the acquisition of a mass spectrometer dedicated to single-cell proteomics (€900,000 funded by the Belgian Foundation Against Cancer) and the "ChipOmics" project, financed by the Win2Wal program of SPW Recherche (€2.2 millions) to automate proteomic sample preparation. This combined support firmly positions Wallonia at the forefront of global research in spatial proteomics.
