Optimizing nanobody design with multi-objective engineering
Official title: Optimizing Nanobody Sequence Design through Multi-Objective Engineering
Funded at Rochester Institute of Technology · NIH-11401182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A collaboration to design better nanobody sequences for cancer and other diseases by balancing multiple properties at the same time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rochester Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $186,875 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM159671-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401182 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers or diseases that could be targeted by nanobody therapeutics, and volunteers who contribute samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit would be those not involved in or impacted by nanobody therapeutic development or not eligible for related clinical work.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a computerized approach that can predict and optimize several important features of nanobody sequences, such as how well they bind targets, stay stable, stay soluble, and avoid unwanted interactions. The team will build a model that handles multiple goals at once and test it in the lab through a co-evolving cycle of computation and experimentation. By linking the predictive model with hands-on experiments, they hope to accelerate the development of effective nanobody therapeutics. This approach could shorten timelines and reduce costs in bringing safer and more effective treatments to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed up the creation of nanobody-based therapies with better developability, potentially leading to faster access to powerful cancer and infectious disease treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that multi-objective approaches can improve developability predictions, but this project aims to integrate modeling with wet-lab testing in a continuous loop for nanobodies.
Where this research is happening
-
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Haibo — Rochester Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Yang, Haibo
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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.