Which genes need to be controlled to guide a stem cell toward a desired cell type, or to modulate an immune cell’s inflammatory response? A research team has developed a general-purpose computational framework that identifies the key targets needed to steer a cell toward a desired state with a single temporary intervention, without permanently altering its genes.

NUDGE, a foundational technology that redirects cell fate in a desired direction through a minimal, temporary intervention by harnessing the gene regulatory dynamics already present within cells.

Technologies that redirect cell fate have drawn attention as key tools for treating intractable diseases and advancing regenerative medicine, since they can be used to differentiate stem cells into cells with specific functions or to return diseased or aged cells to a near-normal state. Differentiation, for example, refers to the process by which a stem cell becomes a specific cell type with a distinct function, such as a cardiomyocyte or a neuron.