How to build the virtual cell with artificial intelligence: Priorities and opportunities

Area of Science:

• Computational Biology
• Artificial Intelligence in Biology
• Cellular and Molecular Biology

Background:

• Traditional cell models are insufficient for accurately simulating cellular functions and behaviors in health and disease.
• Significant advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and omics technologies present novel opportunities for biological modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a vision for the design and development of an AI virtual cell (AIVC).
• To outline how collaborative efforts in building AIVCs can revolutionize biological research.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing multi-scale, multi-modal large-neural-network-based models.
• Integrating AI and omics data for comprehensive cellular representation.

Main Results:

• AIVCs will enable high-fidelity simulations of molecules, cells, and tissues across diverse states.
• This approach will accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and experimental validation.

Conclusions:

• AI virtual cells offer transformative potential for understanding cellular functions and disease mechanisms.
• Fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and open science is crucial for realizing the full potential of AIVCs.