Cell damage scoring method developed

Researchers at the University of Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne, and the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research have developed a computational method that quantifies cellular damage at the individual cell level using gene expression markers. The method, published in Cell Genomics, identifies cell-type-specific damage scores for kidney podocytes and liver hepatocytes, enabling detailed analysis of disease progression in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data. Led by Andreas Beyer of CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Ageing Research, the collaboration with clinician Martin Kann aims to better understand slow-progressing degenerative diseases. The approach can distinguish early disease mechanisms from later changes and differentiate patient-specific from general progression, potentially enabling more precise treatment tailoring and improved prediction of disease trajectories.