QuadST showcases the tool’s ability to detect cell-to-cell communication signals directly from spatial transcriptomics data, revealing genes that change as cells interact in healthy and diseased tissues [2]. For example, disrupted communication between nerve cells can lead to memory loss and cognitive decline, as seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Technique Tales | Cellular annotation: the keystone of spatial analysisFor spatial biology to deliver on its potential, foundational aspects of the spatial analysis workflow need to be executed with precision. Because the underlying biology in these simulations is fully known, scientists can test whether their methods for detecting cell communication are accurate. While sCCIgen generates virtual tissues, the second tool, QuadST, analyzes real tissue data to reveal which genes and cell types are communicating.