Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41545411›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Robust and interpretable prediction of gene markers and cell types from spatial transcriptomics data.

Xiao Tan, Onkar Mulay, Jacky Xie, Samual MacDonald, Taehyun Kim, Chenhao Zhou, Zherui Xiong, Samuel X Tan, Nan Ye, Amy McCart Reed and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Xiao TanGenomics and Machine Learning Lab, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Onkar MulayGenomics and Machine Learning Lab, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Jacky XieSchool of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Samual MacDonaldARC Training Centre for Information Resilience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Taehyun KimPathology Queensland, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia.
Chenhao ZhouFrazer Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7702-3436
Zherui XiongGenomics and Machine Learning Lab, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Samuel X TanFrazer Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
Nan YeSchool of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Amy McCart ReedUQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5387-2791
Kiarash KhosrotehraniFrazer Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6406-4076
Fred RoostaSchool of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Maciej TrzaskowskiGenomics and Machine Learning Lab, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Peter T SimpsonUQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4816-8289
Quan NguyenGenomics and Machine Learning Lab, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, QLD, Australia. quan.nguyen@qimrb.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7870-5703

Funding

Department of Education and Training | Australian Research Council (ARC) DE190100116Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) GNT2008928
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) links tissue morphology with gene expression values, opening new avenues for digital pathology. Deep learning models are used to predict gene expression or classify cell types directly from images, offering significant clinical potential but still requiring improvements in interpretability and robustness. We present STimage as a comprehensive suite of models to predict spatial gene expression and classify cell types directly from standard H&E images. STimage enhances robustness by estimating gene expression distributions and quantifying both data-driven (aleatoric) and model-based (epistemic) uncertainty using an ensemble approach with foundation models. Interpretability is achieved through attribution analysis at single-cell resolution integrated with histopathological annotations, functional genes, and latent representations. We validated STimage across diverse datasets, demonstrating its performance across various platforms. STimage-predicted gene expression can stratify patient survival and predict drug response. By enabling molecular and cellular prediction from routine histology, STimage offers a powerful tool to advance digital pathology.

Indexed as

Spatial TranscriptomicsTranscriptomeDeep LearningGene Expression ProfilingGenetic MarkersHumansGenetic Markers

Identifiers

PMID41545411
PMCPMC12917206

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.