Can scientists learn cells' language? UCLA-led team aims to decode cellular conversations
A multi-institutional team led by UCLA is launching the Billion Cell×Cell Project to map how individual cells communicate and influence one another. The project aims to decode cellular 'language' to better understand health and disease mechanisms like fibrosis and cancer.
Why it matters
Understanding cellular interactions at this scale could lead to breakthroughs in treating complex diseases by correcting misaligned cellular signals.
News & Insights Can scientists learn cells language? UCLA-led team aims to decode cellular conversations Billion Cell×Cell Project aims to decipher the ‘language’ cells use to shape health, disease and future therapies Microscopic, bowl-shaped hydrogel containers called nanovials that can capture individual cells — or defined pairs of interacting cells — in self-contained microenvironments. The platform was developed in part by Di Carlo’s lab at UCLA. | Credit: June 23, 2026 By Ani Vahradyan 6 min read Multicellular life depends on remarkable acts of cooperation. Every cell in the human body must sense what is happening around it, interpret signals from its neighbors and respond in ways that support the larger tissue. These chemical, physical and electrical messages help determine when cells grow, repair damage, fight infection or quiet down after a threat has passed — and tissue health depends on how well those parts come together.
The article provides a neutral overview of a scientific initiative and its potential medical applications.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in