This Nature Methods paper introduces Seq-Well, a portable, low-cost platform for high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing developed by Alex Shalek and collaborators to make cellular profiling more accessible. The method uses arrays of tiny microwells to isolate individual cells alongside uniquely barcoded beads, allowing thousands of cells to be processed simultaneously and their gene expression profiles captured in parallel. The authors demonstrate that Seq-Well produces data comparable in quality to more complex, expensive platforms while being compatible with low-input and clinically relevant samples, including human immune cells and tuberculosis-infected macrophages. By simplifying workflows and reducing cost, this approach enables broader use of single-cell genomics across diverse settings, helping expand efforts to map cellular heterogeneity and understand immune responses in health and disease.
