Abstract: A high throughput method is provided for identifying agents capable of producing a desired biological response in whole cells. The method includes the steps of providing receptacles having a culture surface; placing different mixtures of single agents into selective ones of the receptacles according to a statistical design; and immobilizing the mixtures of single agents to the culture surface. The method further includes contacting the immobilized agents with the whole cells; and acquiring data which is indicative of a desired biological response in the contacted cells. The method also includes using statistical modeling of the acquired data to determine which mixtures of single agents and/or which single agents in these mixtures are effective in producing the desired biological response in the contacted cells.