Functional Peptide Design Beyond Nature

DRA lecture (online) held by Patrick Bryant, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University

Nature offers a vast repertoire of functional peptides, yet the rational exploration of sequence space to design novel effector molecules for therapeutic targets remains a fundamental challenge. In this talk, we will examine how recent advances in deep learning and computational structural biology are transforming our ability to engineer peptides de novo. By moving beyond evolutionary constraints and leveraging state-of-the-art generative models, it is now possible to design precise peptide–receptor interfaces without prior knowledge of orthosteric sites or receptor conformational states.

The lecture will highlight the shift from predictive to truly generative frameworks, demonstrating how these approaches enable the systematic discovery of bespoke, next-generation peptide therapeutics. Particular emphasis will be placed on the design of functionally selective ligands, including peptides with tailored signalling bias for complex receptor systems.

The lecture will be VIRTUAL: https://ucph-ku.zoom.us/j/64208252431?pwd=ebeTGekr7JPfe1bVJO7KASDc7rdZ91.1
However, we hope that many of you will join us in the Benzon Auditorium, building 12, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen Ø.

The lecture is organised on behalf of the graduate programme in pharmaceutical sciences, Drug Research Academy, by Associate Professor Alexander Hauser and Professor Jette Sandholm Kastrup, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

The DRA lecture is free of charge and open for attendance by all interested parties. It is not necessary to pre-register.