Unbalanced Schrödinger Bridge Models Discrete Birth-Death Dynamics at Single-Cell Resolution
A new computational framework, the Unbalanced Schrödinger Bridge (USB), addresses the challenge of inferring cellular trajectories from destructive single-cell snapshots. Unlike existing unbalanced optimal transport methods that treat cell mass as a continuous fluid, USB models discrete, jump-like birth-death events at single-cell resolution. The framework provides a tractable solution to the Branching Schrödinger Bridge (BSB) problem, integrating both stochastic and unbalanced effects without simulation. This approach is critical for understanding lineage branching and fate decisions in cellular development. The research is presented in a paper on arXiv (2605.00545).
Key facts
- USB is a simulation-free framework for learning cellular dynamics.
- It models discrete birth-death events at single-cell resolution.
- Existing unbalanced OT methods treat mass as continuous fluid.
- USB solves the Branching Schrödinger Bridge problem.
- The approach integrates stochastic and unbalanced effects.
- It is designed for inferring trajectories from destructive snapshots.
- The paper is available on arXiv with ID 2605.00545.
- USB captures jump-like nature of proliferation and apoptosis.
Entities
Institutions
- arXiv