 Spatial DM is a new statistical model and toolbox developed by researchers at the University of Zurich which uses a bivariate moran statistic to identify spatially co-expressed ligands and receptors as well as their local interacting spots. The model is able to accurately detect and quantify differences in communication patterns between different conditions such as cancerous cells and healthy cells allowing researchers to better understand how cells communicate with each other within a given environment. This could lead to more effective treatments for diseases like cancer. This article was authored by Xuashuang Li, Tianjie Wang, Pendao Liu, and others.