Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is taking a significant leap in the field of biotechnology by harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create therapeutic antibodies for a wide range of diseases. The project aims to address the inefficiencies and challenges that have long plagued traditional methods of monoclonal antibody discovery.
Recently awarded up to $30 million by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), VUMC plans to construct an extensive antibody-antigen atlas. This atlas will serve as the foundation for developing AI algorithms capable of engineering antibodies that are specifically targeted to various antigens of interest. ARPA-H’s goal is to support research that drives biomedical breakthroughs, benefiting public health.
Dr. Ivelin Georgiev, the project principal investigator and a professor at VUMC, emphasized the potential impact of monoclonal antibodies, stating, ‘Monoclonal antibodies have started playing an important therapeutic role in a wide range of disease settings, but we’re just scratching the surface.’ He added that the traditional discovery process is often limited by inefficiency, high costs, significant failure rates, and logistical hurdles.
‘What we’re proposing to do is going to address all of these big bottlenecks with the traditional antibody discovery process,’ Georgiev remarked, highlighting the project’s aim to democratize the process, enabling researchers to identify and generate therapeutic antibodies effectively.
Understanding the complexity of antibody discovery, which traditionally requires specific biological samples and extensive screening, VUMC’s new computational approach leverages simulation technology. ‘With a computational approach, you’re no longer dependent on access to biological samples or multiple screening cycles,’ Georgiev explained.
The project includes three key tasks: generating the antibody-antigen atlas, developing AI algorithms, and conducting proof-of-concept studies to identify therapeutic antibodies suitable for clinical applications. The proposed atlas aims to compile hundreds of thousands of antibody-antigen pairs, significantly exceeding the current database’s limitations.
‘Our project will be providing a platform that can be used for a variety of different diseases, not just the specific targets we’re interested in,’ Georgiev noted, reinforcing the project’s broad implications for future healthcare advancements.
As VUMC moves forward with this innovative initiative, the collaboration involves a diverse team of experts from various institutions, ensuring a comprehensive approach to this complex challenge. The success of this undertaking could pave the way for improved therapeutic options for numerous health conditions, offering hope to patients worldwide.
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- Antibody Discovery
- Vanderbilt