In this episode of FYI, ARK Chief Investment Strategist Dr. Charles Roberts and ARK Analyst Nemo Despot, PhD speak with David Baker, Nobel Prize-winning scientist and pioneer in protein engineering. Baker shares insights into his revolutionary work on Rosetta and the evolution of AI-driven protein design tools. With advances in technologies like RoseTTAFold and generative AI, he discusses how the field is moving towards designing proteins that can neutralize pathogens, catalyze chemical reactions, and potentially combat neurodegenerative diseases. Charlie and Nemo also examine the implications for healthcare, aging, and drug discovery as Baker envisions a future where synthetic biology and AI enable groundbreaking therapeutic options.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introduction of David Baker and his achievements in protein design and engineering.
• RoseTTAFold’s evolution and its role in advancing protein structure prediction.
• How protein design could impact healthcare and the development of new therapies.
• The use of generative AI and diffusion models in protein design for medical applications.
• Challenges of modeling protein function and dynamics with current AI models.
• Potential of AI-designed proteins in applications like cancer therapy and neurodegenerative diseases.
• The role of multiomic research in understanding causality and improving drug efficacy.
• The implications of synthetic molecular machines for nanotechnology.
• Integrating computational and experimental methods in protein engineering.
• Future directions for protein design in therapeutic development, including custom protein-based solutions for disease.