AI-designed antibodies from protein structures
Generative neural networks for structure-based antibody design
This project uses advanced AI to design new antibodies that could help patients by creating more precise diagnostic tests and targeted treatments for infectious diseases and other conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180411 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They are building and training generative neural networks that learn protein 3-D structures to create antibody designs from scratch. The team will use these AI models to predict antibody shapes that could bind specific targets, reducing the need for huge experimental libraries and long screening campaigns. Promising designs will be taken into the lab for biochemical testing and further optimization. Over time this aims to speed up making antibodies for diagnostics, imaging, and therapeutics, including targets related to viral infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with infections or conditions that could be targeted by antibody diagnostics or therapies (for example certain viral infections) or people willing to donate samples for antibody research could be potential candidates for downstream studies.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment or those with conditions unrelated to antibody-based approaches are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make diagnostic tests and antibody therapies faster and cheaper to develop, bringing new tools to patients sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Related AI-driven protein design and structure-prediction work has shown promising lab results, but directly designing fully functional antibodies from scratch is a newer approach still being validated.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Possu — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Huang, Possu
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.