MuSpAn hackathon – Team Science in Action!
The MRC National Mouse Genetics Network (NMGN) celebrated a hugely successful hackathon two weeks ago (2nd-6th March), focused on the spatial analysis software MuSpAn, a tool for the analysis of spatial data from biology experiments. The event brought together researchers from across the UK for a week of lively discussion and hands-on coding. Hosted at the National STEM Centre in York, the hackathon allowed NMGN researchers to mix with mathematicians in small groups to conduct a “deep dive” study on the progression of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.
Participants joined from four NMGN clusters – Cancer, Mito, Ageing, and Data – as well as from the Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology in Oxford, giving the project a distinctly interdisciplinary flavour and highlighting the breadth of expertise across the network. Researchers travelled from the University of Oxford, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Glasgow/Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (CRUK SI), Newcastle University, University of Edinburgh, the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), and the University of Cambridge, using the skills learned at a previous 3-day NMGN Workshop hosted by the CRUK SI to analyse different aspects of spatial transcriptomics datasets. Importantly, the workshop also saw enthusiastic engagement from several NMGN associates, with attendees joining from ICR, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, further broadening the collaborative reach of the event.
Across the week, participants explored a wide range of applications for the MuSpAn software, with a focus on analysing the data across spatial scales to explore everything from subcellular ligand-receptor interactions to tissue-scale architecture. The atmosphere was described by organisers and attendees alike as energetic, supportive, and deeply collaborative – a testament to the strength of the Network and the enthusiasm of everyone involved. Participants are now working on developing the results of the week into manuscripts focusing on the novel biology and methodological developments discovered throughout the week.
Early feedback has been hugely positive, with many commenting on the value of bringing together researchers from so many parts of the NMGN. As Professor Simon Leedham put it, the workshop was “a triumph” and a clear example of the impact that cross‑Network engagement can achieve.