The field of biological research is witnessing a major milestone as multiomics platforms, particularly the BD Rhapsody™ System, have now surpassed 1,000 installations across research institutions around the world. This achievement marks a significant acceleration in how scientists study complex biological systems by integrating multiple layers of cellular information, including DNA, RNA and protein data at the single-cell level.
The BD Rhapsody System, a flagship instrument for single-cell multiomics analysis developed by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), was first introduced in 2017 and has rapidly become a cornerstone for laboratories focused on deep cellular insights. Its installation at renowned research centres now exceeds one thousand, with one of the milestone placements occurring at Addenbrooke’s Hospital of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where clinicians and scientists are using it to explore how immune cells function in critically ill patients.
What sets this platform apart in the world of high-throughput science is its ability to capture data from hundreds of thousands of individual cells simultaneously, allowing researchers to decipher intricate biological processes with previously unattainable resolution. Capturing multiomic data from the same cell enables an integrated view of gene expression, protein abundance and other molecular readouts that together drive the behaviour of complex systems such as the immune response, cancer progression and neurobiology.
The milestone installation also reflects broader trends in the adoption of multiomics technologies. The global multiomics market is expanding rapidly, driven by demand for comprehensive biological insights and precision medicine applications. Industry reports project that the multiomics sector, which was valued in billions of dollars in recent years, will continue growing sharply as more research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms deploy integrated analysis platforms to support drug discovery, biomarker identification and disease mechanism studies.
These integrated platforms combine genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and other data types to provide a holistic picture of cellular and molecular functions. Researchers increasingly prefer multiomics approaches because they offer a more complete understanding of biological events than any single modality alone. Innovations such as spatially resolved multiomics are also enabling scientists to correlate molecular data with physical tissue architecture, opening new avenues for precision oncology and immunology research.
The rapid installation of 1,000 Rhapsody Systems underscores not only the technology’s reliability but also the scientific community’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of biological research. Since its launch, the system has been featured in more than 700 peer-reviewed scientific publications, reflecting its pivotal role in advancing discoveries across diverse fields.
Ongoing innovation continues to enhance the platform’s capabilities. BD has announced upcoming expansions such as new assay kits that improve whole transcriptome analysis at lower cost per cell and cryopreservation options that enable researchers to store samples for extended periods before analysis. Additionally, efforts to automate workflows and standardise data outputs aim to make multiomic studies even more accessible to laboratories with varying levels of technical expertise.
In parallel with hardware advancements, software ecosystems tailored for multiomics are evolving rapidly. Cloud-based analytics platforms now allow scientists to visualise and interpret complex multiomic datasets without needing deep bioinformatics expertise, democratizing data access for smaller research groups and emerging markets.
The implications of reaching this 1,000 installation milestone extend far beyond counting devices. It highlights how integrated multiomics has matured from a niche research approach to a mainstream methodology in global life sciences. From academic labs in Europe to biotechnology hubs in North America and Asia, multiomics platforms are shaping the next generation of discoveries in health, disease and biotechnological innovation.
As multiomics technology continues to spread, the research community anticipates even deeper insights into cellular mechanisms and more rapid translation of laboratory findings into clinical and therapeutic breakthroughs. The 1,000-installation milestone is not merely a number; it signals a new era in biological understanding where data integration across molecular layers will be central to solving some of science’s most difficult challenges.