New ASTRA Consortium Unites Asia-Pacific Scientists to Build Pan-Cancer Spatial Atlas Powered by 10x Genomics' Xenium

Rhea-AI Summary

10x Genomics (Nasdaq: TXG), together with Garvan Institute and University of Tokyo, launched the Asia-Pacific Spatial Translational Research Alliance (ASTRA) on November 18, 2025 to build a pan-cancer spatial atlas using the Xenium spatial platform.

ASTRA will map cancer–immune interactions across 2,000 tumor samples, study ten major cancer types with custom Xenium panels, and create regional hubs and shared digital infrastructure to harmonize biospecimens and data across the Asia-Pacific. The consortium is supported by the ASPIRE program and will formally launch at the inaugural ASTRA Conference in Sydney on Nov 19–21, 2025.

Insights

Cancer spatial biology expert

ASTRA launches a large Asia‑Pacific pan-cancer spatial atlas using 10x Genomics' Xenium across 2,000 tumor samples.

The project assembles regional researchers to generate a multi-tissue spatial reference linking cellular context and molecular data across ten major cancer types. By using custom Xenium panels and integrating molecular with spatial information, the consortium will produce a shared dataset that highlights population-specific immune and tumor features.

Key dependencies include sample quality, standardized data harmonization, and cross-border biospecimen logistics, which the consortium plans to address through regional hubs and infrastructure. Success depends on consistent protocols and interoperable data formats to ensure comparable results across sites.

Watch for pilot dataset releases and methods at the inaugural ASTRA Conference on Nov 19-21, 2025, and subsequent cohort expansion milestones as the atlas scales beyond the initial 2,000 samples. Expect meaningful dataset publications and resource releases within months after the conference if pilot data quality is confirmed.

Initiative led by researchers in Australia and Japan aims to map cancer and immune interactions to advance precision oncology across the region

PLEASANTON, Calif. and SYDNEY, Nov. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 10x Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TXG), a leader in single cell and spatial biology, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia and the University of Tokyo in Japan, today announced an initiative to create a comprehensive pan-cancer spatial atlas. The Asia-Pacific Spatial Translational Research Alliance (ASTRA), a consortium that fosters collaboration in spatial research across the Asia-Pacific region, will use 10x Genomics' Xenium spatial platform to map how cancer and immune cells communicate across 2,000 tumor samples.

ASTRA will bring together molecular and spatial data across cancer types. The resulting atlas will serve as a shared foundation for precision oncology in the Asia-Pacific, linking cellular context, genetic diversity and population-scale insights that have been underrepresented in global cancer data.

Led by Dr. Ankur Sharma of the Garvan Institute and Dr. Yutaka Suzuki of the University of Tokyo, ASTRA brings together cancer researchers, clinicians and data scientists to study ten major cancer types using custom Xenium panels tailored to specific tissues. By integrating molecular and spatial data across tumor types, the project will identify immune interactions and molecular features that differ across populations, building a shared reference for cancer biology that informs both local and global therapeutic development.

"ASTRA represents a new model for scientific collaboration - agile, distributed and deeply connected to the healthcare needs of the Asia-Pacific region," said Dr. Ankur Sharma, Laboratory Head at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. "By combining our expertise and leveraging 10x's cutting-edge Xenium spatial technology, we aim to build the most comprehensive cancer atlas for our part of the world."

"ASTRA represents a powerful step toward global equity in cancer research," said Dr. Yutaka Suzuki, Professor at the University of Tokyo. "By uniting leading researchers across the Asia-Pacific and leveraging 10x Genomics' Xenium technology, we can capture the cellular complexity of cancer in our populations and build a shared foundation for truly personalized medicine."

Initially launched through collaboration between research teams in Australia and Japan, ASTRA will expand participation to include additional partners across the broader Asia-Pacific region, establishing new regional spatial biology hubs and digital infrastructure for data sharing. The effort will also address logistical barriers such as biospecimen movement and data harmonization to ensure high-quality, cross-border collaboration.

"This is the latest large-scale international research initiative powered by 10x. We're thrilled to be a part of this ambitious, multi-country effort to chart the cellular complexity of cancer," said Ben Hindson, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of 10x Genomics. "Projects like ASTRA show how spatial biology connects researchers across borders and helps translate cellular insight into treatments that reflect global patient diversity."

ASTRA is supported by the Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) program, a bilateral initiative between Japan's Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The ASTRA Consortium will formally launch at the inaugural ASTRA Conference, taking place November 19-21, 2025, in Sydney, Australia, where investigators will share early pilot data generated on the Xenium platform and outline plans to scale the atlas across cancer types, institutions, and regional hubs.

About 10x Genomics
10x Genomics is a life science technology company building products to accelerate the mastery of biology and advance human health. Our integrated research solutions include instruments, consumables and software for single cell and spatial biology, which help academic and translational researchers and biopharmaceutical companies understand biological systems at a resolution and scale that matches the complexity of biology. Our products are behind breakthroughs in oncology, immunology, neuroscience and more, fueling powerful discoveries that are transforming the world's understanding of health and disease. To learn more, visit 10xgenomics.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Bluesky or YouTube.

About the Garvan Institute of Medical Research
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research brings together world-leading researchers and clinicians, collaborating locally and globally, to advance our understanding of disease, particularly cancer, immune diseases and genetic disorders. We see a future where all diseases can be prevented, treated or cured. Building on our scientific strengths in genomics, cancer and immunology, enabled by cutting-edge technology and world-class facilities, we will drive more of our discoveries to clinical and societal impact.

About the University of Tokyo
Founded in 1877 as Japan's first national university, the University of Tokyo is an educational and research institution comprising 15 faculties and graduate schools, along with 11 affiliated research institutes. Guided by the fundamental policy "UTokyo Compass: Into a Sea of Diversity — Creating the Future through Dialogue," announced by President Teruo Fujii in September 2021, the University aims to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to address social challenges.

Disclosure Information
10x Genomics uses filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, its website (https://www.10xgenomics.com/), press releases, public conference calls, public webcasts and its social media accounts as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

Contacts
Investors: investors@10xgenomics.com
Media: media@10xgenomics.com

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SOURCE 10x Genomics, Inc.

FAQ

What is ASTRA and which organizations launched it alongside TXG?

ASTRA is the Asia-Pacific Spatial Translational Research Alliance, launched with Garvan Institute and University of Tokyo in collaboration with 10x Genomics (TXG).

How many tumor samples will ASTRA map with 10x Genomics Xenium and which cancer coverage does it target?

ASTRA will map 2,000 tumor samples across ten major cancer types using custom Xenium panels tailored to specific tissues.

When and where will the ASTRA Consortium formally launch and present pilot data?

The consortium will formally launch at the inaugural ASTRA Conference in Sydney, Nov 19–21, 2025, where early pilot Xenium data will be shared.

What is the role of the ASPIRE program in the ASTRA initiative?

ASPIRE, a bilateral initiative between Japan's AMED and Australia's NHMRC, provides program support for the ASTRA consortium and regional collaboration.

How will ASTRA address cross-border data sharing and biospecimen logistics?

ASTRA plans to establish regional spatial biology hubs and digital infrastructure to harmonize data and address biospecimen movement challenges across the Asia-Pacific.

What is the intended research outcome of ASTRA for precision oncology in the Asia-Pacific?

ASTRA aims to create a shared pan-cancer spatial atlas linking cellular context and population diversity to inform locally relevant precision oncology and therapeutic development.