Arc Institute: The Virtual Cell Challenge – Evaluating & improving computational models that predict cellular responses to genetic or chemical perturbations

Virtual Cell Challenge is a recurring, open, community-driven challenge aimed at evaluating and improving computational models that predict cellular responses to genetic or chemical perturbations. In 2025, the challenge will focus on context generalization: participants must predict the effects of perturbation in a held out cell type—the H1 human embryonic stem cell line. Using new experimental data we have generated for the Challenge, you will build a model that predicts these effects and submit the results to the Challenge leaderboard.
The top three scores will win prizes as follows, each divided equally between cash and cloud credits: 1st – $100K, 2nd – $50K, 3rd – $25K
Timeline:
June 26, 2025 – Challenge announced, registration open, datasets available, start submitting your model’s results to the leaderboard
October 27, 2025 – Final test set released
Nov 3, 2025 – Final submission deadline
Early Dec 2025 – Winners announced
https://virtualcellchallenge.org