Creating automated labs to design and test proteins quickly

Self-driving laboratories for autonomous exploration of protein sequence space

NIH-funded research University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10931464

This study is working on creating smart labs that use artificial intelligence to design and improve proteins for medicine, which could help speed up the development of new treatments and therapies for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Madison, United States)
Project IDNIH-10931464 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to develop fully autonomous laboratories that can engineer enzymes for use in medicine and biotechnology. By using artificial intelligence, the project mimics the work of protein engineers, allowing the system to understand how protein sequences relate to their structure and function. The labs will automate the process of designing, testing, and optimizing proteins, significantly speeding up research and development in these fields. Patients may benefit from faster advancements in treatments and therapies that rely on engineered proteins.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals with conditions that could be treated with novel biomedicines or therapies developed from engineered enzymes.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions that do not involve protein-based therapies or biomedicine may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to quicker development of new therapies and treatments that utilize engineered proteins.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in automating protein engineering processes, indicating that this approach has potential for significant advancements.

Where this research is happening

Madison, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.