UKE researchers facilitate analysis of tissue samples

26 September 2025

No special equipment required and possible means of treating kidney diseases

An international research team led by the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) has developed a new method for analysing proteins in tissue, a press release said in July. The method, known as pathology-orientated multiplexing (Pathoplex), allows for the simultaneous analysis of more than 100 proteins in a single tissue sample. The scientists hope that Pathoplex will enable them to identify changes in tissue early and to offer personalised treatment.

Easily accessible method

Crucially, Pathoplex is "compatibile with almost any fluorescence microscope", said Victor Puelles, lead researcher. The method in which proteins are marked with antibodies in several cycles and then photographed can be used universally. The researchers developed the freely available "Spatiomic" software to analyse large volumes of data.

New findings thanks to Pathoplex

Pathoplex could advance early detection and treatment of diabetic kidney diseases. Researchers examined the effects of anti-diabetic drugs using pathoplex in one study published by the Nature journal. They also used the method to identify a potentially new cause of diabetic kidney diseases.
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