Biological design and annotation 

Project duration: January 2023 – Completion

A visual representation of biology and artificial intelligence in symbiosis. A vine-like network illuminated with orange electricity.

The challenge

Through our biological design and annotation project, we are applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced computational methods to protein design and function prediction. Our aim is to deepen our understanding of biology to help generate bio-inspired solutions to the greatest challenges across agriculture, medicine, environmental management and more.  

Biology has evolved over billions of years to meet all the challenges that have been thrown at it. Now, thanks to rapid technological advances, we have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to unlock many more of the secrets to biology’s success.  

Our interdisciplinary team of researchers are working together to create enabling technologies that put the power of AI, together with protein and enzyme design, in the hands of science, industry and society. 

Our response

We are combining computational approaches with high-throughput data generation, using our Brisbane-based BioFoundry. The BioFoundry has been built and optimised for strain and protein engineering; particularly enzymes, binders, and biosensors.  

We are investing in the next generation of scientists, through our PhD student cohort and postdoctoral fellows, to bring new and innovative thinking to Data-Driven Molecular Design.  

Collaboration is key to our response. We are partnering with universities and industry to meet the challenges directly in front of us, and well into the future. 

Impact

We are on a mission to create fast, accurate and accessible protein design and function prediction tools and workflows.  

These will enable scientists in industry, academia and government research to rapidly access new protein designs and functions for improved outcomes across their sectors. 

Our workflows will be designing the next generation of biosensors, bioproduction organisms and biocatalysts to generate impact for industry and deliver benefits for society.  

Team

Andrew Warden, Helen Power, Joshua Brown, Marltan Wilson, Thomas Coudrat, Tiffany Chau, Ullhas Kaarthi Moorthi, Candice Jones, Leigh Gebbie, Andy Bachler, Hafna Ahmed, Rashika Sood, Irfan Hayat, Nathan Paul, Alecia Gee.