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Portrai to Showcase Cutting-Edge AI in Spatial Transcriptomics at AACR 2026

In a groundbreaking announcement, Portrai, Inc., a leader in spatial biology based in Seoul, South Korea, is preparing to display 11 innovative posters at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026. These presentations will highlight the company's significant advancements in artificial intelligence and spatial transcriptomics, emphasizing their applications in oncology drug discovery.

Advancements in Cancer Research

Portrai aims to enrich cancer research through its latest computational frameworks and biological discoveries. The research presented at the conference will illustrate the methodology employed to decode the intricate tumor microenvironment (TME). By addressing the challenges inherent in integrating vast sample collections and mitigating batch effects, Portrai hopes to accelerate the development of new oncology drugs.

Among the technologies showcased will be a transcript-only framework designed for high-resolution pseudocell boundary inference, alongside CELLama-Perturb, which models virtual cells to assess drug sensitivity based on spatial tumor heterogeneity. Moreover, the company's advanced ontology-guided hierarchical cell typing system leverages large language models to enhance its analyses.

Introducing PortrAIgent

One of the most notable highlights will be the introduction of PortrAIgent, an innovative co-scientist AI agent. This groundbreaking tool is engineered to streamline the spatial transcriptomics discovery process, autonomously managing complex analysis workflows. From data imputation to pathway activity scoring, PortrAIgent seeks to lower the barriers for researchers transitioning from high-resolution data to actionable biological hypotheses.

Testing has indicated that PortrAIgent successfully reduces the required expertise level needed to interpret intricate data, thereby democratizing access to sophisticated analytical tools in the field.

Translational Clinical Insights

In addition to technical innovations, Portrai will unveil key translational clinical findings. A pivotal study will examine the core resistance niches associated with non-major pathological responses (non-MPR) observed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after receiving neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. The spatial data revealed in this study maps intrinsic repair mechanisms to specific regions within the TME, providing insights into emerging combination therapy strategies—specifically regarding TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies.

Commitment to Clinical Relevance

“Through these 11 presentations, we reaffirm our dedication to integrating high-resolution spatial data with clinical insights,” stated Hongyoon Choi, MD, PhD, co-founder and CTO at Portrai. “By automating complex spatial analyses and developing robust foundational models, we are equipping researchers with the necessary tools to understand tumor resistance and expedite the discovery of novel precision targets.”

The abstracts and posters reflecting Portrai's latest advancements will be accessible throughout the AACR 2026 conference, allowing attendees to engage with the forefront of cancer research technology.

About Portrai, Inc.

Established to harness the power of spatial biology and artificial intelligence, Portrai, Inc. is committed to merging real-world data with high-resolution subcellular spatial metrics. Their mission is to build predictive models that identify first-in-class targets for drug discovery, contributing to a future where cancer treatment is more precise and effective. Portrai relies on vast digitized spatial databases to fuel its internal pipeline, focusing on therapeutic candidates targeting both pan-adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

To explore more about Portrai's innovative approaches and contributions to oncology, visit www.portrai.io.

As we look forward to AACR 2026, Portrai’s advancements stand to make a considerable impact on the way we approach cancer treatment and research, emphasizing the vital role that AI will play in the future of medicine.