Researchers reported CIPHER-seq, a single-cell platform designed to measure RNA and proteins simultaneously in the same immune cell, aimed at closing the gap between cytokine gene expression and functional protein output. The method captures multiple molecular layers in real time, including surface and intracellular proteins, cytokines not yet released, and genome-wide RNA. The work appears in Scientific Reports and was developed by teams at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, with collaborators at UCSF and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. The platform was validated by stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tracking immune activation. Co-senior authors say RNA often doesn’t translate cleanly into protein levels for cytokines, which can complicate interpretation in RNA-only studies. In CIPHER-seq, researchers also reported metabolic remodeling during activation alongside cytokine induction. The platform is expected to support more precise immune-state profiling for translational immunotherapy efforts and patient stratification.