DECIPHER · Decoding and perturbing cell identity regulatory network for cell fate and state engineering

Human cells engineered in vitro have revolutionized our ability to model human biology and diseases, offering exciting opportunities for therapeutic screening and intervention. However, single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) reveals that engineered cells often remain heterogeneous, immature, and dissimilar to primary counterparts. Precise cell engineering remains challenging without systematic interrogation of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that establish cell identity. Here, we propose to engineer precise cell fates and states by coupling GRN decoding, perturbation screening, and single-cell technologies. Our vision is to decode GRNs that shape cell identities in fate specification, multicellular communication, and maturation, and use this insight to 1) engineer precise cell subtypes, 2) reconstruct niche-specific signatures, and 3) accelerate maturation. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cells, we will first couple combinatorial transcription factor screening with scRNA-seq to directly induce iPSCs into specific neuron subtypes guided by primary neuron GRNs. Second, we will program glial cell subtypes and reconstruct multi-cellular niche with neurons, analyze how niche cross-talk impacts cell fates and states, and use emerged GRNs to engineer niche-specific signatures. Finally, we will decode dynamic GRNs during neural maturation and screen for determinants to accelerate maturation. DECIPHER aims to dissect the causal links between GRNs and cell identities, offering mechanistic insights into drivers of cell identity changes with the ambitious goals to engineer precise and mature cell subtypes for disease modeling, cell therapy, and regenerative medicine. Our approach holds great potential to study diverse cell fate and state transition events, such as development, reprogramming, regeneration, and cancer. The perturbation atlas generated here will empower AI-driven predictive modelling to guide future cell engineering.