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Mission Statement
To establish and promote standardised frameworks for spatial omics data that enable streamlined data sharing, interoperability, and accessibility while adhering to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.
Vision
To drive a global transformation in spatial omics data management by creating an inclusive ecosystem where researchers, institutions, and industries collaborate to unlock the full potential of complex spatial datasets for scientific discovery and biomedical innovation.
About IO-FAST
Spatial omics technologies are evolving rapidly, which also means that spatial datasets in general are becoming larger and more complex. At the same time, many studies make use of these technologies in a collaborative and multimodal manner. Due to the diversity in the field, numerous (proprietary) data formats complicate data sharing, standardized data analysis and metadata/cell annotation.
IO-FAST was born as an idea during a spatial biology conference (networking – WE LOVE IT!) where we discussed the practical barriers to sharing data of these types and how to overcome them. We started IO-FAST in response to the lack of tools and methods to enable FAIR data use in spatial biology. As a community driven initiative, we aim to enable researchers to share and access spatial data in a FAIR manner.
The IO-FAST Community is open to all researchers, data scientists and clinicians working with spatial data, broadly defined as data which contains a molecular and a spatial component as fundamental features. We operate on an inclusive basis and welcome all who wish to participate constructively.
IO-FAST Founders
IO-FAST Founders
Dr Amonida Zadissa is a data science leader with extensive experience advancing open, reproducible, and collaborative research. Currently Associate Director of Informatics at the UK Dementia Research Institute, she collaborates with researchers to implement data strategies that enhance reproducibility and drive high-impact science. She is a strong advocate for transparency and inclusivity, focusing her work on ensuring research outputs are accessible to the broader scientific community through initiatives that promote data equity, skills exchange, standardisation, and community-driven innovation.
Dr Jan-Philipp Mallm is heading the Single-cell Open Lab at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). He empowers cancer researchers by providing open access to cutting-edge workflows, training scientists to independently execute experiments from tissue processing to library preparation, while also focusing on new protocols. His group also offers numerous spatial omics technologies and runs the OMERO image database at DKFZ. In the NFDI4bioimage his group works on multi-modal data integration and data sharing strategies. So quite naturally founding IO-FAST was another step towards FAIR science.
Dr Samuel Jackson is a strategic innovator with experience across academia, pharma, and biotech, where he has built and led programmes at the intersection of translational science, technology, and data. He has led initiatives that integrate cutting-edge platforms with collaborative governance, enabling discovery and accelerating therapeutic development. A strong advocate for FAIR data and inclusive research culture, he brings a track record of uniting diverse stakeholders to deliver sustainable impact. As founder of IO FAST, he is committed to driving innovation that transforms research ecosystems and enables them to provide new medicines for patients.
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