New Publication from the Binder Lab in Briefings in Bioinformatics

A new research article from the Binder Lab has been published in Briefings in Bioinformatics (2026).

The paper, authored by Tomas Konecny, Hans Binder, Ulrike Hampel, Florian Hansmann, Helga Pfannkuche, and Marlon R Schneider, is titled “Spotting a unicorn: spatial transcriptome analysis of the eyelid reveals gene regulatory networks enriched in Moll glands.”

The study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional landscape of human Moll glands using spatial transcriptomics and machine learning. Moll glands, located at the eyelid margin, are small specialized structures that have remained largely understudied.

In this work, the authors identify key gene regulatory networks and novel molecular markers that define the metabolic and secretory functions of these glands, providing new insights into their biological role. The study also demonstrates the potential of integrating spatial transcriptomics with computational approaches to investigate complex and previously unexplored tissue systems.

The work was presented as both a talk and a poster at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF).

Read the article here.