Objective
The next frontier in the life sciences is to map not only the composition but also the spatial organization of entire transcriptomes, genomes, and proteomes at molecular resolution. Existing approaches either achieve high resolution without scalability, scalability without resolution, or breadth without unbiased detection. Targeted methods such as MERFISH, seqFISH+, or FLASH-PAINT rely on affinity reagents and remain blind to unknown molecules, while untargeted approaches such as Light-Seq or DBiT-Seq require complex hardware, are diffraction-limited, and are restricted to nucleic acids.
The Molecular Atlas Project (MAP) will overcome these barriers by developing the first untargeted, scalable, and super-resolved spatial omics strategy. MAP introduces randomized DNA barcodes that are assembled directly on molecules in situ and read out by sequential imaging with FLASH-PAINT. This strategy enables unique labeling of every RNA or DNA molecule in a sample, with subsequent identification by sequencing and correlation with spatial imaging data. In parallel, FLASH-RESI will achieve Ångström-level resolution in a single imaging round, enabling barcoded imaging even in dense molecular environments. Finally, MAP will pioneer the extension of this strategy to proteins by attaching DNA barcodes to protein functional groups and reading them out by nanopore-based protein fingerprinting. This objective will establish, for the first time, a route to unbiased spatial proteomics with molecular precision.
By combining accessibility (compatible with standard microscopes and sequencing platforms) with disruptive conceptual advances, MAP will transform spatial biology from targeted imaging into truly comprehensive, untargeted spatial omics, catalyzing discovery across cancer biology, neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, and medicine.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules nucleic acids
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA transcriptomes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.