Resources: Posters

Researchers used the Cellanome R3200 to enclose individual microglia with fluorescent particles and track phagocytosis over 12 hours via fluorescent imaging. Each cell’s transcriptome was then sequenced, linking activity levels to gene expression.  

What they found: 

High-activity microglia upregulated genes in complement signaling, lipid metabolism, and lysosomal function–key pathways in neuroinflammation and repair. 

Why it matters: 

This approach overcomes key limitations in standard assays by capturing phagocytic function and gene expression in the same individual cells without dissociation, pooling, or inference. It enables a direct, scalable readout of immune heterogeneity, and reveals the transcriptional programs driving effective or impaired microglial responses.  

‍What’s next: 

Extend to co-cultures by layering enclosed microglia over intact neuronal networks. Study how cell-cell interactions shape phagocytic behavior and fate. Combine with cytokines, CRISPR libraries, or immunotherapies to generate time-resolved, multi-modal datasets that can be used for MoA analysis, early biomarker discovery, and AI-guided modeling in CNS disease. 

Stem-cell-derived neurospheres offer a robust 3D model of early brain development, but standard assays disrupt their structure and miss critical dynamics.  

Approach:

Using the Cellanome R3200, the research team explored,

• Hundreds of intact neurospheres (100–200 cells each) were cultured inside individual CellCage™ enclosures. 
• Axon extension, synapse formation and calcium activity were tracked over multiple days. 
• End-point RNA-Seq was linked back to each neurosphere’s functional behavior. 
• UMAP clustering revealed lineage-specific gene programs, validated by fluorescent markers.  

‍What's next:

This lays the groundwork for CRISPR-based multimodal screens to probe mechanisms of development, degeneration, and repair within preserved 3D architecture. 

‍Why it matters:

As the FDA and others move to reduce reliance on animal models, human-relevant in vitro systems like this are increasingly essential.