Scientist Spotlight: 2024 Nobel Laureate, HHMI Investigator David Baker

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator David Baker of the University of Washington School of Medicine received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper of Google DeepMind. Baker received the honor for his work in computational protein design.

A professor of biochemistry and an adjunct of genome sciences, bioengineering, chemical engineering, computer science, and physics, Baker is the director of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington.

David Baker wants to understand the fundamental principles underlying protein structure and function, and to apply those principles to create computerdesigned proteins to address challenges in health and technology. Baker and his team do not reengineer native proteins; instead, they iterate between computation and experiment, working to continually improve their design methodology. Current projects include, among others, designing molecular switches, enzymes, and motors; designing delivery vehicles for targeted intracellular delivery of biologics; and developing methods to design highaffinity binders to small molecule and protein targets.

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