Building detailed maps of human cells to help AI explain how genes affect health
Bridge2AI: Cell Maps for AI (CM4AI) Data Generation Project
Researchers are creating high-resolution maps of human cells and tissues to help AI better explain how genetic differences relate to disease for people with diverse conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11376383 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, the project would collect tissue and cell samples and use three main approaches—protein mass spectrometry, detailed cellular imaging, and CRISPR-based genetic changes—to map cell structure and function. The team plans to include samples from different ages, backgrounds, and disease states so the maps reflect real patient diversity. Those maps will be combined with AI tools so predictions from genes to symptoms are more visible and easier to understand, and all data will be shared under open, FAIR principles. The project also focuses on the ethics of using these maps in genomic medicine and on training new researchers in biomachine learning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people who can provide tissue or blood samples—including patients with conditions of interest and healthy volunteers from diverse backgrounds—at participating collection sites.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate treatment from the project are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit, especially if they do not provide samples or are not enrolled at collection sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these maps could make AI-based genetic tests more explainable and help guide more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: The effort builds on successful initiatives like the Human Cell Atlas and proven CRISPR and proteomics methods, but combining them to produce AI-interpretable cell maps is a newer and ambitious direction.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ideker, Trey — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Ideker, Trey
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.