New Imaging Platform Developed By Bengaluru Scientists Could Transform Disease Mapping

Scientists at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a novel imaging platform that could significantly advance the way researchers study diseases by enabling the visualisation of an unprecedented number of proteins within a single biological sample using just one fluorescent marker.

JNCASR is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Union Science and Technology Ministry.

The technology, called Cleavable Light-Erased Antibody Reporter (CLEAR), is expected to open new possibilities in high-resolution spatial proteomics — a rapidly evolving field focused on understanding how proteins are organised inside cells and tissues. Researchers said that the platform may eventually improve disease diagnosis and precision medicine approaches in conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders and immune-related diseases.

Proteins play a central role in nearly every biological process and remain the primary targets for most therapeutic interventions. However, scientists have long faced a major limitation in mapping large numbers of proteins simultaneously while preserving their natural spatial arrangement within tissues.

Current imaging techniques generally require multiple fluorescent dyes and complex instrumentation, restricting the number of proteins that can be visualised at one time. This often limits the ability of researchers and pathologists to generate comprehensive molecular maps of diseased tissues.

To address this challenge, a team led by Sarit S. Agasti at JNCASR designed the CLEAR platform, which allows repeated cycles of protein labelling and imaging within the same biological sample using a single fluorophore.

The system functions somewhat like a reusable writing surface. Scientists first attach fluorescent tags to selected proteins and capture their images under a microscope. Once imaging is completed, a gentle pulse of 365 nm LED light erases the fluorescent signal without damaging the sample, making room for another round of protein labelling and imaging within the same optical channel.

By repeatedly cycling through this process, researchers can generate highly detailed maps of multiple proteins across individual cells and complex tissue sections without requiring multiple fluorescent dyes.

The study, published in the journal Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemical Science, demonstrates how the platform combines high multiplexing capability with speed, spatial precision and compatibility with delicate biological systems, including live cells.

Researchers said one of the major strengths of CLEAR lies in its ability to preserve tissue integrity while allowing large-scale protein analysis. This is particularly important in fields such as oncology and neuroscience, where understanding the precise spatial arrangement of proteins within tumours or brain tissue can reveal critical insights into disease progression and treatment response.

The work was carried out primarily at JNCASR. Collaborative support from researchers at Indian Institute of Science helped validate the technology in complex immune cell systems and biological environments.

Scientists believe the platform could eventually assist pathologists in identifying disease-specific molecular patterns at much earlier stages. In cancer biology, for instance, detailed protein maps may help reveal how tumour cells interact with surrounding immune cells, potentially improving targeted therapy strategies. In neurological diseases, the technology could offer deeper understanding of protein alterations associated with neurodegeneration and brain disorders.

The researchers noted that the platform aligns with growing global efforts in spatial proteomics and precision medicine, where treatment decisions are increasingly guided by detailed molecular profiling rather than conventional diagnostic methods alone.

While further validation and clinical translation will be required before widespread medical application, the development marks an important step towards creating comprehensive, high-resolution molecular atlases of human tissues — an area expected to shape the future of biomedical research and personalised healthcare.