Cai Lab
We have pioneered the field of single cell spatial genomics, gaining unprecedented insights into the molecular and spatial organization of organisms.What drives us?
Biology is defined by spatial organization at many scales, ranging from meters – the size of the human body – to nanometers (billionths of a meter) – the size of molecules. We develop and utilize breakthrough technologies that allow us to observe the organization inside cells and the processes that drive cell functions.
Our methods answer the technical challenge of how to comprehensively image cell activity within its native environment. We’re able to apply our technologies to some of the most challenging problems in developmental biology, immunology, neuroscience, cancer biology, and microbiology.
Our Technologies
Cai Lab developed seqFISH, a novel imaging technology that allows us to simultaneously visualize tens of thousands of different molecules in a single tissue sample. To achieve this level of molecular information, we combine fluorescence microscopy, DNA labeling nanotechnology, custom fluid handling, and advanced image processing.
In collaboration with the Elowitz Lab at Caltech, we’ve developed MEMOIR – a system that allows us to record cell lineage information and event histories in vivo that can subsequently be readout in situ by seqFISH.
Latest News
Our paper “Single-cell nuclear architecture across cell types in the mouse brain” published in Science
Our latest work is now available in print inside the latest issue of Science. Using integrated spatial genomics technology, researchers at Cai Lab ...
Presentation video: Integrated spatial genomics reveals invariant features in the nucleus
Looking to delve into how integrated spatial genomics is revealing new insights in nuclear protein arrangement and function? You can watch a...
New publication ” Integration of spatial and single-cell transcriptomic data elucidates mouse organogenesis”
Exciting new work "Integration of spatial and single-cell transcriptomic data elucidates mouse organogenesis" is now out in Nature Biotechnology!...
Connect With Us
We are excited to hear from you. If you have any questions about our work, our lab, or want to collaborate, please send us a message.