Bull lab

Quantitative Spatial Biology Lab

The Quantitative Spatial Biology Lab studies how the organisation of cells and tissues shapes health and disease. 

From the shapes of proteins to the distribution of immune cells within a tumour and the large-scale architecture of organs, biological function is determined by structure across scales. Our research seeks to understand how such spatial patterns arise, how they change in health and disease, and how we can use this insight to improve biological understanding and clinical decision-making.

We develop statistical analysis methods and software to explore data from emerging imaging and spatial omics technologies, providing the quantitative language needed to describe the complex spatial patterns they reveal. This descriptive approach sits alongside mechanistic mathematical modelling, through which computational simulations explore how distinct biological processes give rise to tissue-scale spatial organisation through the interactions of individual cells. By linking observations from imaging data with predictions from these models, we aim to uncover the mechanisms that drive tissue organisation in health and disease, and ultimately contribute to improved diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes.