Envision the Future of Single-cell: where we are and how we go

The recent roundtable discussion on the significance of the "Human Single-Cell Atlas" has left us all in awe of the incredible progress in this field.

In the pre-single-cell era, scientists could only identify around 200 to 300 cell types. But thanks to advancements in single-cell sequencing technology, we can now identify a staggering 2,000 to 3,000 cell types! This newfound knowledge is a game-changer for drug development, as the lack of understanding of the cell atlas in the past made it challenging to create effective treatments. Without these single-cell maps, many diseases were left without proper references, and we struggled to observe the comprehensive gene expression profiles.

However, we are not stopping here! We are determined to make single-cell technology more accessible and versatile. Our goal is to simplify the process, expand its applications, and increase its frequency of use. By reducing the complexity and broadening the areas where single-cell technology can be applied, we envision a future where we can examine blood cells for disease diagnosis and prediction.

Furthermore, as single-cell technology continues to mature in terms of resolution, throughput, cost, and multi-omics integration, we anticipate generating an unprecedented amount of data. It won't be long before qualitative descriptions of biological phenomena heavily rely on quantitative, data-driven approaches enabled by advances in computational science.

Join us on this thrilling journey towards unlocking the full potential of single-cell research!