10x Genomics Unveils Atera Spatial Platform at AACR Meeting

New whole-transcriptome spatial biology instrument promises to 'fundamentally change' research

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:04am

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric shapes, concentric circles, and precise organic spirals in muted earth tones, conceptually representing the interconnected complexity of biological systems enabled by the new 10x Genomics Atera spatial platform.The Atera spatial platform from 10x Genomics promises to unlock new frontiers in whole-transcriptome biology by eliminating traditional trade-offs in resolution, throughput, and plex.San Diego Today

10x Genomics launched its new spatial platform with whole transcriptome capabilities, Atera, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in San Diego. The Atera instrument offers higher throughput, plex capacity, and sensitivity compared to the company's previous Xenium platform, aiming to eliminate typical trade-offs in spatial genomics.

Why it matters

Spatial genomics with whole-transcriptome profiling is considered the 'ultimate approach' to measuring single cells in their tissue context, providing a more comprehensive view of biological processes like cancer development. The Atera platform could enable major advancements in large-scale mapping efforts like the Human Cell Atlas.

The details

The Atera instrument can process up to 800 1 cm2 whole transcriptome samples per year, with a greater than 5 cm² imageable area per slide. It offers four times the throughput, six times higher plex capacity for targeted assays, 3.6x higher plex, and 2–3x sensitivity for whole transcriptome assays compared to the Xenium platform. The instrument uses standard glass microscopy slides, which will make it more 'pathology friendly' for researchers. While the $495,000 price tag may pose challenges for some labs, the Atera is touted as eliminating the typical trade-offs between plex, resolution, and throughput in spatial genomics.

  • The Atera instrument will be available in the second half of 2026.
  • 10x Genomics unveiled the Atera platform at the AACR conference in San Diego on April 19, 2026.

The players

Serge Saxonov

CEO of 10x Genomics, who announced the Atera launch and described it as the 'biggest launch in our history' and the 'most excited' he's been about any product.

Holger Heyn

ICREA professor at the Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG) and member of the Human Cell Atlas, who stated that spatial genomics with whole-transcriptome profiling is the 'ultimate approach' to measuring single cells in their tissue context.

Jasmine Plummer

Associate member of the St. Jude Faculty and director of the Center for Spatial OMICs, who noted that the whole transcriptome capability of Atera could bring 'sticker shock' for researchers due to the higher number of required probes.

Nick Banovich

VP of scientific development at TGen, professor of bioinnovation and genome sciences division, and director of the Center for Spatial Multi-Omics (COSMO), who stated that the Atera platform eliminates the typical trade-offs in spatial genomics.

10x Genomics

The genomics company that developed the Atera spatial platform, which it described as a 'fundamental platform' that will enable the next decade of research and work in spatial biology.

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What they’re saying

“This is the biggest launch in our history. I am the most excited I've ever been about any product, or any product category, across the board.”

— Serge Saxonov, CEO, 10x Genomics

“Spatial genomics with whole-transcriptome profiling capabilities is the ultimate approach to measure single cells in their tissue context. All other lower-plexity approaches have been just a warm-up phase leading to this application.”

— Holger Heyn, ICREA professor, Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG) and member, Human Cell Atlas

“In this economy, with the uncertainty of scientific funding, it is concerning to ask customers—many of whom just landed a machine—to spend another several hundred thousand dollars.”

— Jasmine Plummer, Associate member, St. Jude Faculty and director, Center for Spatial OMICs

“The most exciting thing [about Atara] is that there is still quite good sensitivity with whole transcriptome breadth. That's the huge advantage of this system; there is no tradeoff anymore.”

— Nick Banovich, VP of scientific development, TGen, and director, Center for Spatial Multi-Omics (COSMO)

What’s next

10x Genomics presented a roadmap for future Atera platform developments, including plans for spatial proteomics, automation, base-by-base sequencing, and software improvements.

The takeaway

The launch of the Atera spatial platform with whole-transcriptome capabilities represents a major advancement in spatial genomics, eliminating traditional trade-offs and enabling more comprehensive biological insights, particularly in the field of oncology. This new instrument could play a pivotal role in large-scale mapping efforts like the Human Cell Atlas.