mRNA Drug Design by Artificial Intelligence

Speaker:  Prof. Zhi XIE
          Sun Yat-sen University

Title:    "mRNA Drug Design by Artificial Intelligence"

Date:     Monday; 29 July 2024

Time:     11:00am - 12:00noon

Venue:    Room 4502 (via lift 25/26), HKUST

Abstract:

mRNA drugs have emerged as a forefront therapy, offering simplicity in
production, heightened safety, and personalized treatment options.
However, challenges such as low translation efficiency and instability
persist. AI technology has recently emerged as a solution, enabling the
autonomous design of novel mRNA sequences by deciphering their functional
relationships without the need for extensive experimental data. This
approach not only enhances our understanding of mRNA biology but also
improves the design of potent mRNA sequences, streamlines experimental
processes, boosts drug efficacy, and explores new avenues in drug design,
addressing unmet clinical needs and global health challenges with
precision.


******************
Biography:

Prof. Zhi XIE is a professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics at Sun Yat-sen
University in Guangzhou, China. He earned Bachelor's degrees in Medical
Science and Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Computational Systems Biology
at Lincoln University, New Zealand. He spent three years at Johns Hopkins
University as a Postdoc and three years at the National Institutes of
Health as an Investigator. In 2013, he started his research group at Sun
Yat-sen University. His research interests lie at the intersection of
machine learning and biology, driving advancements in understanding
biological systems at the molecular level.