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Call for Papers - Spatial biology

Guest Editor

Archibald Enninful, MS, MPhil, Yale University, USA

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 10 September 2025


BMC Methods is calling for submissions to our Collection on "Spatial biology." This Collection invites researchers to contribute to the growing field of spatial biology, focusing on the spatial organization of biological systems and their implications for health and disease. We welcome submissions that explore innovative methodologies, applications of spatial omics, and the integration of high-resolution imaging techniques to enhance our understanding of cellular microenvironments and tissue architecture.

Meet the Guest Editor

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Archibald Enninful, MS, MPhil, Yale University, USA

Archibald Enninful is a PhD candidate and research scientist in Biomedical Engineering at Yale University in the lab of Prof Rong Fan, graduating in December 2025. His research focuses developing spatial multi-omic tools to interrogate different biological contexts. Some of his research work focuses on profiling cellular senescence in human lymphoid tissues as part of the NIH Cellular Senescence Network. Additionally, as a member of the Yale HTAN HuLymSTA team within the Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN), Archibald is constructing a comprehensive spatiotemporal molecular and cellular atlas of human lymphomas. His work has been featured at prestigious conferences, including the Gordon Research Conference.

About the Collection

Spatial biology is an emerging field that focuses on understanding the spatial organization of biological systems at various scales, from cellular microenvironments to tissue architecture. By integrating advanced imaging techniques and omics technologies, researchers can visualize and quantify the distribution of biomolecules, cells, and tissues in their native contexts. This approach provides critical insights into the complex interactions that govern biological processes, disease progression, and therapeutic responses, ultimately enhancing our understanding of health and disease.

Advancing our collective understanding of spatial biology is crucial. It allows for the identification of cellular heterogeneity and the elucidation of spatial gene expression patterns that are often lost in traditional bulk analyses. Recent advances, such as spatial transcriptomics and imaging mass spectrometry, have revolutionized our ability to map the spatial localization of RNA and proteins within tissues. These innovations have opened new avenues for research, enabling scientists to explore the intricate relationships between cellular components and their microenvironments, which are essential for developing targeted therapies and personalized medicine.

As research in spatial biology continues to evolve, we can anticipate significant advancements in high-resolution imaging techniques and spatial data integration methods. Future developments may lead to the creation of comprehensive spatial maps that not only depict cellular organization but also reveal dynamic interactions within the tissue microenvironment. This could facilitate a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and the identification of novel therapeutic targets, ultimately transforming the landscape of biomedical research.

With this in mind, BMC Methods is opening this Collection on "Spatial biology." We welcome submissions on the following:

  • Spatial transcriptomics and its applications
  • Imaging mass spectrometry for tissue analysis
  • Spatial mapping of cellular microenvironments
  • High-resolution imaging techniques in spatial biology
  • Integrating spatial omics data for comprehensive insights
  • Single-cell spatial methods
  • Imaging mass cytometry
  • Computational tools


All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

Image credit: © picture alliance / Image Source | Callista Images

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Methodology and Protocol articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Spatial biology" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.