Integrating CRISPR-Based Functional Genomics and Multi-Omics to Identify Therapeutic Targets

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 113

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK
Interests: genome engineering; cell-based assays; functional genomics screens; omics; RNA-seq; therapeutic target identification and validation

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Guest Editor
Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK
Interests: RNA biology and alternative splicing in development and disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in CRISPR technologies have significantly expanded our ability to manipulate genetic material and interrogate gene function in diverse biological systems. CRISPR-based functional genomics screening has enabled precise identification and validation of genes and pathways involved in disease processes. These approaches are increasingly applied across a wide range of biomedical areas, including cancer therapy, immunotherapy, drug discovery, and studies investigating the mechanisms underlying drug resistance.

At the same time, developments in bioinformatics, computational genetics and artificial intelligence (AI) have facilitated the incorporation of multi-omics approaches into functional genomics studies. Multi-omics approaches, including methodologies ranging from transcriptomics and proteomics to single-cell analyses, provide powerful frameworks for understanding complex biological systems. The combination of CRISPR-based perturbation screening with integrative multi-omics analyses enables more accurate characterisation of complex phenotypes and disease-associated pathways, supporting more reliable prioritisation of candidate therapeutic targets.

This Special Issue welcomes original research and review articles that explore the integration of CRISPR-based functional genomics screening with multi-omics approaches to investigate gene function, elucidate disease mechanisms, identify and validate potential therapeutic targets, and support drug discovery efforts across diverse human diseases.

Dr. Farimah Ghorbani
Prof. Dr. David J. Elliott
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • CRISPR-technology
  • functional genomics screening
  • Perturb-seq
  • multi-omics
  • disease mechanisms
  • drug target discovery

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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