Stellaromics is a privately held company focused on pioneering breakthroughs in 3D spatial multi-omics. And the company’s mission is to empower researchers with cutting-edge tools that illuminate the complexities of biological systems, enabling discoveries that improve human health. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Stellaromics CEO Todd Dickinson, Ph.D. to learn more about the company.
Todd Dickinson’s Background
What is your background? Dickinson said:
“I have spent my career at the intersection of innovation and commercialization in the life sciences. My background includes dual degrees in chemistry and theology from St. Olaf College, followed by a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Tufts University under the mentorship of Professor David Walt. Early in my career, I joined Illumina, where I had the great fortune and opportunity to be a part of the company’s rise as the global leader in DNA sequencing. From there, I led the development and commercialization of BioNano Genomics’ Irys nanochannel array product. I later served as CEO of Dovetail Genomics and Arc Bio, which we merged in 2022 to form Cantata Bio. Today, as CEO of Stellaromics, I am focused on developing revolutionary 3D spatial biology tools to empower researchers with novel biological and clinical insights.”
Formation Of Stellaromics
How did the idea for Stellaromics come together? Dickinson shared:
“Stellaromics emerged from a clear need in the scientific community—moving beyond the limitations of 2D spatial biology to achieve true three-dimensional insights. The technology was originally developed in the laboratories of Karl Deisseroth at Stanford University and Xiao Wang at MIT and the Broad Institute, leveraging their pioneering approaches in tissue visualization. Recognizing its potential and the technological gap that existed in the market, we built Stellaromics to bring this 3D spatial biology technology to researchers worldwide, enabling deeper exploration of tissue architecture and cellular interactions.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for Stellaromics so far? Dickinson reflected:
“There are so many! Every day at Stellaromics is exciting and different, and I truly relish working alongside such a talented team. One of the most rewarding moments was unveiling our Pyxa platform at this year’s Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) Conference and seeing the excitement from early adopters. Our team has worked tirelessly to bring this technology to where it is today, and the overwhelmingly positive response we got from researchers at AGBT was both thrilling and gratifying. It is inspiring to witness the enthusiasm from experts who recognize the platform’s potential to transform their fields.”
Core Products
What are Stellaromics’ core products and features? Dickinson explained:
“Our flagship product, Pyxa, is a breakthrough 3D spatial multi-omic platform designed to provide an unprecedented view of tissue organization and molecular interactions. The platform’s key features include:
- Thick tissue analysis: Capable of imaging tissue sections 100μm or more, offering a 10–20x improvement over existing methods.
- Sub-cellular resolution, multi-omic profiling: Enables the simultaneous spatial mapping of hundreds to thousands of genes.
- Streamlined workflow: Automated sample preparation, data acquisition, and analysis reduce researcher workload.
- Advanced visualization software: Provides intuitive tools for exploring spatial genomics data in 3D. These innovations make Pyxa an indispensable tool for uncovering new insights in disease research and therapeutic development.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Dickinson cited:
“One of our significant milestones was securing $80 million in Series B funding, led by Catalyst4 with participation from the venture arm of Stanford University. This investment is fueling the development and commercialization of Pyxa. Our early access program has also been fully subscribed and will launch in the second half of 2025, indicating strong demand from leading research institutions. We are also gearing up for our commercial launch, with initial shipments expected by the end of 2025.”
Customer Success Stories
After asking Dickinson about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“Although we are actively working toward commercial availability, initial users across diverse research areas are already seeing remarkable results with Pyxa. This is some of the feedback that they have shared:
- Nigel Jamieson, Group Leader at the University of Glasgow: ‘I’m thrilled by the potential of Stellaromics’ 3D spatial transcriptomics platform to revolutionize cancer research. Its ability to analyze thick tissue sections in 3D provides unparalleled insights into tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment, including the progression of pre-malignant pancreatic cysts and the transformation of healthy liver tissue into tumors. The emergence of 3D spatial technology marks a transformative step toward creating comprehensive disease atlases, paving the way for more precise diagnostics and targeted therapies to improve patient care.’
- Gordon Wang, Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University: ‘As an early user of the Pyxa platform, I’ve been impressed by its ability to deliver a comprehensive 3D perspective on biological systems. The platform is fundamentally useful, as tissue analysis is inherently three-dimensional. We’re excited to continue partnering with Stellaromics to push the boundaries of scientific research.’
- Xin Jin, Associate Professor at Scripps Research: ‘The transition from 2D to 3D spatial omics is transformative for neuroscience. While 2D methods provide molecular profiles, they miss critical long-range cellular interactions. We can now visualize these connections at an unprecedented scale, enabling high-throughput analysis of genetic perturbations across complex tissues. Combining CRISPR gene editing with high-resolution spatial analysis allows us to uncover new insights into brain development and disease progression in ways we never could before.’
- Arpy Saunders, Assistant Professor at the Vollum Institute of OHSU: ‘We are thrilled to be among the first to utilize the groundbreaking Pyxa platform. A key advantage of Pyxa over other spatial transcriptomic technologies is its ability to analyze much larger tissue volumes per experiment. By enabling dense reconstructions of intact neural circuits in 3D, Pyxa will significantly advance neuroscience research, particularly for our laboratory’s goal of reconstructing cell type-specific synaptic connectivity relationships in high-throughput by tracking the synaptic spread of viruses using RNA barcoding.’
Funding
When asking Dickinson about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“We recently completed an $80 million Series B funding round, which has accelerated our commercialization efforts. While we do not disclose revenue metrics at this stage, we believe the demand for Pyxa and feedback from our initial users is a strong signal of future market traction.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Dickinson assessed:
“Stellaromics operates within the rapidly expanding spatial biology market, which, according to DeciBio, is projected to surpass $2.27 billion by 2029. Our 3D spatial biology approach opens up entirely new applications in oncology, neuroscience, and immunology, significantly expanding our potential market reach.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Dickinson affirmed:
“Stellaromics sets itself apart by genuinely bringing spatial biology into the third dimension. Unlike traditional 2D approaches, Pyxa preserves intact cellular structures, enabling the analysis of thick tissue sections with sub-cellular resolution. Additionally, our STARmap and RIBOmap assays provide unparalleled gene expression and translation insights. This unique combination of deep tissue imaging, advanced assays, and intuitive software positions Stellaromics as a leader in 3D spatial biology.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of your future company goals? Dickinson concluded:
“The Pyxa system is available for order now, with an early access program already fully subscribed and set to launch in the second half of 2025. Initial commercial shipments are estimated to begin at the end of 2025.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to discuss Stellaromics and our vision for 3D spatial biology. We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in biomedical research.”
