10x Genomics launched Atera, a new in situ spatial biology platform designed to deliver whole-transcriptome spatial analysis with single-cell sensitivity at scale. The company debuted Atera at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, citing early access samples analyzed using data from multiple research institutions including the Carl June Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. Atera targets a persistent limitation in spatial measurement—tradeoffs among scale, sensitivity, and the number of genes captured in tissue. The platform is positioned to support large-scale studies across both fresh-frozen and FFPE tissues. 10x Genomics is positioning Atera as a step toward measuring gene expression, cellular states, and spatial organization together within intact tissue, aiming to improve translational discovery workflows. The release also signals continued platform competition in spatial omics as cancer and immunology programs seek higher coverage at clinically practical throughput.