Machine learning approaches enable the discovery of therapeutics across domains.

Multi-modal datasets have grown exponentially in the last decade. This has created an enormous demand for machine learning models that can predict complex outcomes by leveraging cellular, molecular and humoral profiles. Corresponding inference of mechanisms can help uncover new therapeutic targets. Here, we discuss how biological principles guide the design of predictive models and how interpretable machine learning can lead to novel mechanistic insights. We provide descriptions of multiple learning techniques and how suited they are to domain adaptations. Finally, we talk about broad learning capabilities of foundation models on large datasets and whether they can be used to provide meaningful inference about biological datasets.