The design of new proteins, based on natural sequences or from scratch, is revolutionizing biotechnology with applications ranging from healthcare to industrial processes. AI models trained on sequences and structures are accelerating the creation of functional proteins. At the same time, high-throughput experimental methods enable the large-scale generation and testing of these proteins with greater efficiency.
On July 11, the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) will host the Symposium on Protein Design and Engineering: From Artificial Intelligence to High-Throughput Experimentation. Offered online and free of charge to the general public, the event will feature leading researchers from Brazil and abroad, including speakers from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation – Fiocruz, The University of São Paulo – USP, the University of Maryland, the Broad Institute, and CNPEM itself, who will present cutting-edge advances aimed at strengthening protein design and engineering as a strategic field in the country.
The symposium will showcase research and breakthroughs along the entire spectrum, from developing new therapeutics for human health to applications in industrial bioprocesses. Presentations will cover computational methods, emphasizing AI-driven models and their integration into protein-design pipelines (including antibodies, vaccines, and peptides), as well as experimental techniques for engineering new proteins (including enzymes) and validating proteins generated in silico.
Supported by
When: July 11, 2025 / 8h30-17h00 (GMT-3)
Where: Online
How much: Free
Registration due: July 6
AGENDA
| Horário (GMT-3) | Palestrante / Instituição | Título / Atividade |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Maria Augusta (Diretora – LNBio, Brasil) | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Helder Ribeiro (LNBio, Brasil) | A new environment for protein design at LNBio and recent advances in TCR design |
| 09:30 – 10:20 | Brian Pierce (University of Maryland, EUA) | Toward Accurate Modeling and Design of Antibody and TCR Recognition with Deep Learning |
| 10:20 – 10:50 | — | Coffee Break 1 |
| 10:50 – 11:40 | Roberto Lins (FIOCRUZ, Brasil) | How a Russian broken radio has inspired the design of immunobiologics in Brazil |
| 11:40 – 12:30 | Fernando Barroso (FCFRP, Brasil) | Combining Physics-Based Simulation and Machine Learning Approaches for Advanced Antibody Engineering |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | — | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Leticia Zanphorlin (LNBR, Brasil) | Expanding the biocatalytic toolbox: P450-catalyzed decarboxylation for hydrocarbon biosynthesis |
| 14:30 – 15:20 | Alex Burgin (Diretor – Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute, EUA) | RABIT: Rapid Automated Binder Identification Technology (Online) |
| 15:20 – 15:50 | — | Coffee Break 2 |
| 15:50 – 16:30 | Pablo Arantes (Instituto Vita Nova, Brasil) | AI-Driven Design of Bioactive Peptides: A Strategy to Boost the Brazilian Pharmaceutical Industry |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Andreas Petrides (OMSF, EUA) | Folding on the Web: Bringing the Foldit Scientific Discovery Game to Browsers (Online) |
Sign up below to attend the webinar for free by July 6. You’ll receive an access link after registration.
