The King’s College London Smart Trials Hub is a globally unique, multi-omics hub within King’s Research Infrastructure located at Guy’s Hospital campus. It applies advanced multi-modal technology to understand disease biology in granular detail to enable equitable development of personalised therapies. It houses state-of-the-art spatial and non-spatial 'omics' technologies to enable full molecular profiling of cells, tissues and liquid biopsies.
Technologies span transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, chemical/elemental and non-cellular features in context. The hub also enables researchers to use patient-derived organoids and ex-vivo live tissues to test emerging mechanisms created from matched patient samples.
The revolution in spatial biology technologies and AI-driven data interpretation means we can now create a full picture of human tissues to gain unprecedented mechanistic insight into disease biology. The Smart Trials Hub aims to use these technologies to understand why some patients respond to existing therapies and others do not, and to decode the spatial molecular make-up of tissues to identify new targets for treatments.
Advanced multi-omics technology
Transcriptomics
Spatial and single-cell transcriptomics that require refined sample preparation for tissue integrity and dissociation workflows, enabling high-resolution gene expression analysis across cell types and locations.
Protein Marker Analysis
Protein expression profiling for both spatial tissue analysis and cell suspensions, with tailored antibody panels and automated workflows.
Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometry workflows (proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, metallomics) for both spatial tissue profiling and liquid samples, providing support for required sample preparation and integrated data analysis.
Organoid Development & Analysis
Fresh human tissue processing into organoids cultured in Matrigel, with functional imaging capturing drug responses and dynamic cell behaviours. Organoids can be fixed for further multi-omic analysis using standard histology and omics protocols.
Facility staff
Smart Trials Hub Facility Manager
Dean of Research Excellence Frameworks
Director, Core Facilities
Associate Director - Innovation & Business Development - Analytical Core Facilities and Smart Trials Hub
Associate Director Innovation & Business Development – Imaging Core Facilities and Smart Trials Hub
We offer access to a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment designed to support diverse research and analytical needs across the life sciences. This comprehensive portfolio spans advanced imaging, spatial biology, single-cell analysis, genomics, proteomics, and mass spectrometry platforms, enabling researchers to study biological systems at multiple scales, from molecules and cells to tissues and whole organisms.
The equipment provides flexibility and adaptability, allowing bespoke workflows for different sample types, experimental designs, and applications. High-throughput and automated systems streamline routine processes, while modular and multi-modal platforms support more complex, cutting-edge analyses. Together, these technologies provide high sensitivity, resolution, and reproducibility, ensuring robust and reliable data generation.
Related equipment
10x Chromium
High-throughput single-cell and multi-omic profiling of gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and protein markers.
Leica - HistoCore MULTICUT & SPECTRA
High-precision, high-throughput sectioning and slide preparation of FFPE and frozen tissue.
10x - Visium CytAssist
Whole-transcriptome spatial profiling across entire tissue sections.
Zeiss - Axioscan 7
Fast high-resolution whole-slide scanner for automated, multi-channel digitisation of brightfield & fluorescence tissue sections.
10x - Xenium
High-resolution, multiplexed analysis of gene and protein expression within tissue samples.
Leica - Viventis Deep Lightsheet microscope
Fluorescence microscope combines multi-view and multi-position light-sheet imaging for increased spatio-temporal resolution.
Beckman Coulter - Cytoflex SRT
High-performance flow cytometer and cell sorter enabling precise, multi-parameter analysis and sorting of up to 15-color panels.
Akoya - PhenoCycler
Multiplexed spatial proteomics, providing single-cell resolution of 100+ protein markers across intact tissue sections.
Standard BioTools - CyTOF XT
High-throughput, automated single-cell analysis of proteins with metal-labelled antibodies.
Thermo Fisher - Orbitrap Ascend
High-resolution, proteomic, small-molecule and lipid analysis with deep coverage and advanced structural characterisation.
Thermo Fisher - Orbitrap Astral
Ultra-deep, high-throughput, and single-cell–sensitive proteomics.
Bruker - timsTOF flex MALDI-2
Enabling molecular & spatially resolved, label-free analysis of thousands of biomolecules in tissues.
Thermo Fisher iCAP MTX Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS
Interference-free trace elemental analysis across complex biological matrices.
Teledyne Iridia Laser Ablation System
The Iridia (Teledyne) is a high-performance 193 nm laser ablation system designed for fast, precise elemental imaging across a wide range of sample types.
The STH is an open access facility, and anyone interested in undertaking these types of advanced profiling approaches is encouraged to get in touch to discuss their project by emailing smarttrialshub@kcl.ac.uk
The hub operates largely as a service facility. Users work with the team to discuss their project, design experiments and analysis approaches, and the profiling is then carried out by the facility. Researchers are engaged at every step of the process with opportunities to learn, share knowledge and build a collective understanding of complex human disease.
Advanced multi-omics technology
Transcriptomics
Spatial and single-cell transcriptomics that require refined sample preparation for tissue integrity and dissociation workflows, enabling high-resolution gene expression analysis across cell types and locations.
Protein Marker Analysis
Protein expression profiling for both spatial tissue analysis and cell suspensions, with tailored antibody panels and automated workflows.
Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometry workflows (proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, metallomics) for both spatial tissue profiling and liquid samples, providing support for required sample preparation and integrated data analysis.
Organoid Development & Analysis
Fresh human tissue processing into organoids cultured in Matrigel, with functional imaging capturing drug responses and dynamic cell behaviours. Organoids can be fixed for further multi-omic analysis using standard histology and omics protocols.
Facility staff
Smart Trials Hub Facility Manager
Dean of Research Excellence Frameworks
Director, Core Facilities
Associate Director - Innovation & Business Development - Analytical Core Facilities and Smart Trials Hub
Associate Director Innovation & Business Development – Imaging Core Facilities and Smart Trials Hub
We offer access to a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment designed to support diverse research and analytical needs across the life sciences. This comprehensive portfolio spans advanced imaging, spatial biology, single-cell analysis, genomics, proteomics, and mass spectrometry platforms, enabling researchers to study biological systems at multiple scales, from molecules and cells to tissues and whole organisms.
The equipment provides flexibility and adaptability, allowing bespoke workflows for different sample types, experimental designs, and applications. High-throughput and automated systems streamline routine processes, while modular and multi-modal platforms support more complex, cutting-edge analyses. Together, these technologies provide high sensitivity, resolution, and reproducibility, ensuring robust and reliable data generation.
Related equipment
10x Chromium
High-throughput single-cell and multi-omic profiling of gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and protein markers.
Leica - HistoCore MULTICUT & SPECTRA
High-precision, high-throughput sectioning and slide preparation of FFPE and frozen tissue.
10x - Visium CytAssist
Whole-transcriptome spatial profiling across entire tissue sections.
Zeiss - Axioscan 7
Fast high-resolution whole-slide scanner for automated, multi-channel digitisation of brightfield & fluorescence tissue sections.
10x - Xenium
High-resolution, multiplexed analysis of gene and protein expression within tissue samples.
Leica - Viventis Deep Lightsheet microscope
Fluorescence microscope combines multi-view and multi-position light-sheet imaging for increased spatio-temporal resolution.
Beckman Coulter - Cytoflex SRT
High-performance flow cytometer and cell sorter enabling precise, multi-parameter analysis and sorting of up to 15-color panels.
Akoya - PhenoCycler
Multiplexed spatial proteomics, providing single-cell resolution of 100+ protein markers across intact tissue sections.
Standard BioTools - CyTOF XT
High-throughput, automated single-cell analysis of proteins with metal-labelled antibodies.
Thermo Fisher - Orbitrap Ascend
High-resolution, proteomic, small-molecule and lipid analysis with deep coverage and advanced structural characterisation.
Thermo Fisher - Orbitrap Astral
Ultra-deep, high-throughput, and single-cell–sensitive proteomics.
Bruker - timsTOF flex MALDI-2
Enabling molecular & spatially resolved, label-free analysis of thousands of biomolecules in tissues.
Thermo Fisher iCAP MTX Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS
Interference-free trace elemental analysis across complex biological matrices.
Teledyne Iridia Laser Ablation System
The Iridia (Teledyne) is a high-performance 193 nm laser ablation system designed for fast, precise elemental imaging across a wide range of sample types.
The STH is an open access facility, and anyone interested in undertaking these types of advanced profiling approaches is encouraged to get in touch to discuss their project by emailing smarttrialshub@kcl.ac.uk
The hub operates largely as a service facility. Users work with the team to discuss their project, design experiments and analysis approaches, and the profiling is then carried out by the facility. Researchers are engaged at every step of the process with opportunities to learn, share knowledge and build a collective understanding of complex human disease.