Virtual Cell Challenge 2026: Benchmarking zero-shot generalization across cellular contexts

The Virtual Cell Challenge returns in 2026 with a more demanding test of biological generalization: zero-shot prediction across multiple independent cellular contexts. Participants will build models to predict gene knockdown responses in a new Arc-generated dataset comprising unseen cell lines. The goal is to determine whether the best models can meaningfully close the gap between preclinical experimental predictions and human biology.