Illumina Expands Billion Cell Atlas with AI-Native Partners

Launched in January 2026, the Atlas serves as a foundational dataset for companies like AstraZeneca, Merck, and Eli Lilly. By mapping how cells respond to CRISPR-induced genetic changes across 200 disease-relevant cell lines, the project shifts the focus from purely observational data to actionable biological insights. This shift allows researchers to better understand disease mechanisms and predict how candidate drugs interact with specific patient populations.

For Formation Bio, the partnership provides a critical layer of cell-specific causal biology. CEO Benjamine Liu noted that the data will help the company refine asset selection and clinical trial designs, particularly for first-in-class programs where traditional evidence is often fragmented. By integrating this genetic information with existing clinical and translational data, partners aim to de-risk development pipelines and increase the probability of regulatory approval. Illumina’s leadership views this initiative as the necessary next frontier for AI in biology, moving beyond existing limitations to create a comprehensive, high-resolution map of human disease.