Using Transcriptomics and Cell Morphology Data in Drug Discovery: The Long Road to Practice

Gene expression and cell morphology data are highdimensional biological readouts of much recent interest for drug discovery. They are able to describe biological systems in different states (e.g., healthy and diseased), as well as biological systems before and after compound treatment, and they are hence useful for matching both spaces (e.g., for drug repurposing) as well as for characterizing compounds with respect to efficacy and safety endpoints. This Microperspective describes recent advances in this direction with a focus on applied drug discovery and drug repurposing, as well as outlining what else is needed to advance further, with a particular focus on better understanding the applicability domain of readouts and their relevance for decision making, which is currently often still unclear.

Automated summary

Gene expression and cell morphology data are important for drug discovery. They can describe different biological states and the effects of compound treatment, and are useful for drug repurposing and compound characterization. This paper discusses recent advances in this area, and emphasizes the need for better understanding the applicability domain of readouts and their relevance for decision-making.