Turn your research question into single-cell or spatial data

Join our Grant Challenge

Three projects will be selected to receive Labena CRO services for a single-cell or spatial study, from sample preparation to data generation in our laboratories.

Applications close 15 November 2026

Advance research and development with spatial and single-cell insight

Single-cell analysis reveals the diversity of individual cells within complex biological systems. Spatial technologies show how those cells are organised and interact inside their native tissue. Together they open up disease and resistance mechanisms, tissue architecture, cellular interactions, treatment response, and candidate therapeutic targets.

As a certified 10x Genomics Service Provider, Labena supports researchers on Chromium Single Cell, Xenium In Situ and Visium Spatial — and not only at the bench: study design, sample preparation, quality control, laboratory workflows and bioinformatics are all handled by Labena, so the technology and the workflow actually match the question being asked and the project achieves valuable results.

What is covered by the grant

Each selected project receives Labena services for one single-cell or one spatial study — reagents, laboratory work and sequencing included, with sequencing run in-house at Labena. Which route fits is decided together with you, based on your scientific objectives, samples and technical feasibility:

Single-cell project with 10x Genomics Chromium, for cell-by-cell resolution across a dissociated sample: Flex v2 16 rxn, 3′, 5′, ATAC or Multiome 4 rxn.
Spatial project — Xenium, for targeted gene expression in intact tissue with single-cell resolution: one run on 10x Genomics Xenium In Situ, preset panels excluding custom panels and the 5K panel.
Spatial project — Visium, for whole-transcriptome expression mapped across a tissue section: one run on 10x Genomics Visium Spatial, Visium HD slide, 6.5 × 6.5 mm.

The selected participants will be invited to visit Labena’s laboratories in Ljubljana during the project, to see the laboratory work in person and meet the team.

Labena’s experts support the project from study design and sample qualification through laboratory work to data generation, including the standard primary analysis output from the instrument pipeline. Sequencing is covered up to a value of €2,000 per project.

Read the full scope of what is covered, sample requirements and exclusions in the cooperation terms and conditions.

Who can apply

The grant is open to researchers based in Europe. Applications from different areas of biomedical, pharmaceutical, or other life-science research are welcome. The Grant Challenge is open to researchers at academic and non-profit research institutions, such as universities, research institutes and university hospitals.

Previous experience with single-cell or spatial technologies is desired, but not required. Researchers with a strong scientific question and suitable biological samples are encouraged to apply.

Application and research areas

Spatial and single-cell approaches show how genomes, gene and protein expression vary across tissues and cell populations, making biologically meaningful interpretation possible beyond bulk analysis. These methods are applied across many research and development areas, including:

Oncology

Characterize tumor and immune microenvironment heterogeneity, resolve spatial organization of cell populations, and identify biomarkers with therapeutic and translational relevance.

Immunology

Profile immune cell states and their spatial distribution in the context of infectious diseases, inflammatory conditions, and autoimmune disorders.

Neuroscience

Map spatial gene expression patterns in complex neural tissues to study disease mechanisms, neurodegeneration, and responses to injury

How to apply

Submit a short proposal covering:

Applicant and institution details
Your research question and objectives
Scientific relevance and expected impact
Fit of the proposed analysis into your wider research project
Available sample type, number and preparation method
Any previous experience with single-cell or spatial technologies
Your preferred technology, if you already know

Projects are evaluated on scientific relevance, contribution to the research field, integration within the wider research project, suitability for single-cell or spatial analysis, technical feasibility, and sample readiness. Samples must be available and delivered by 31 March 2027 at the latest.

Before applying, read the cooperation terms and conditions, which cover the application requirements.

Application deadline: 15 November 2026

Winners announced: 15 December 2026

Apply here

Have a research question that could benefit from single-cell or spatial analysis? This is your opportunity to turn it into meaningful data and new scientific insights.

Application deadline is 15 November 2026.

Before applying, read the cooperation terms and conditions, which cover the application requirements.

The grant committee

Proposals will be reviewed by our experienced team.

Uršula Prosenc Zmrzljak, PhD

Head of Molecular Biology

Leads Labena’s molecular biology laboratory, with a background spanning molecular biology techniques, oncology molecular diagnostics and animal studies. She assesses whether a proposal is scientifically sound and whether the chosen single-cell or spatial method can actually answer the question being asked.

Iva Sabolić

Bioinformatician

Works on the analysis side of Labena’s single-cell and spatial projects, from pipeline output through to interpretation. She looks at whether the data a proposal would generate can realistically be analysed to answer the question, and what that analysis would involve.

Živa Rejc

Business Development Specialist

Works with research groups and biotech and pharma teams across Europe on single-cell and spatial projects. She brings the view from the field: what questions are being asked right now, where a proposal sits among them, and what the results would mean for the group behind it.

Mario Dananić, MBA

Head of Strategy, Life Science

Background across the medical, chemical, genomics and pharmaceutical industries. He looks at the potential impact of each proposal — how far the results could reach beyond the project itself, and what translational or wider scientific value they could carry.