Multicellular modules as clinical diagnostic and therapeutic targets

The complex determinants of health and disease can be determined when approached as a system of interactions of biological agents at different scales. Similar to the physicochemical properties that govern nucleic acids and proteins, there should be a finite set of rules that dictate the behavior of cells to form tissues. Thus, the occurrence of disease can be seen as flaws in processes that are governed by rules pertaining to multicellular structures. Multiplexed imaging is a technology that connects information that bridges multiple biologi -cal scales (i.e., molecules, cells, and tissues) and enables elucidation of rules associated with the formation of multicellular structures. Uncovering important multicellular structures associated with disease will propel a wave of develop-ment of new categories of diagnostics and therapeutics.

Automated summary

The complex determinants of health and disease can be understood by studying the rules of multicellular structure formation. Multiplexed imaging technology connects information across different biological scales, enabling the discovery of such rules and driving the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics.