Advancing Drug Discovery Using Single Cell Multiomics with Stem Cell Platform

Linheng Li ^1* Fuchou Tang ² HongkuiHongkui Deng ²

• ¹ Stem Cell, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, United States
• ² Peking University, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Moreover, the process of reprogramming soma6c cells into pluripotent stem cells stands as a par6cularly compelling advancement. This technique allows for the crea6on of diverse disease models by deriving cells from pa6ents or by gene6c engineering to reflect specific diseases, providing a powerful tool to explore disease mechanisms at a more personal and precise level. It also improved drug screening approaches from tes6ng candidate drugs on a single type of cells to tes6ng them on complex 6ssues with many types of cells well-organized together, which mimic beKer the real pathological condi6ons in vivo. Such insights into stem cell biology and disease modeling showcase a promising area ripe for breakthroughs, previously likened to the realms of science fic6on. This collec6on of reviews explores the transforma6ve impact of sc-sequencing technologies, par6cularly their expansion into sc-mul6omics, using stem cells as a plaMorm for advancing disease understanding, diagnosis and drug discovery. Drs. J. Hao and X. Zou address the persistent challenges in drug development, such as low success rates and high costs, highligh6ng how sc-mul6omics can refine drug target iden6fica6on and improve preclinical models. Dr. H. Xiong examines advancements in sc-mul6omics, focusing on genome-wide analyses that enhance drug research, improve understanding of drug responses and resistance, and pave the way for personalized treatment strategies. Drs. P. Wang and N. Tang highlight the applica6on of sc-sequencing technologies into drug discovery, emphasizing the importance of post-injury lung regenera6on mechanisms and recent sc-seq discoveries, which hold promise for developing drugs targe6ng lung diseases. Addi6onally, Dr. A. He summarizes recent progress in using sc-multiomics to improve drug research by examining drug-chromatin interactions and mechanisms of resistance, paving the way for personalized treatment approaches.Through con6nued research and explora6on within these innova6ve domains, we are not only enhancing our understanding of fundamental biology but are also bridging the gap between bench-side basic research and bed-side clinical applica6ons, seHng the stage for significant transforma6ons in drug discovery, which will have a profound impact on medical treatment.Linheng Li, Fuchou Tang, and Hongkui Deng January 9, 2025