We are designing a new world of proteins to address 21st century challenges in medicine, energy, and technology.

COVID RESEARCH UPDATES

Latest

2021 Breakthrough of the Year

Deep learning dreams up new protein structures

UW BIOFAB: a force for reproducible science

Deep learning reveals how proteins interact

COVID-19 vaccine with IPD nanoparticles meets Phase 1/2 trial goals

Baker lab joins USAID’s $125M project to detect emerging viruses

Our Mission

Natural proteins evolved over millions of years to solve the most complex challenges on Earth, but we face new and pressing challenges today. The goal of the Institute for Protein Design is to create a new world of synthetic proteins to address these challenges.

To achieve this, we are marshaling deep institutional strengths in our faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students as well as our partners from collaborating institutions, innovator networks, and from the computer and biotechnology industries. We are bringing extraordinary expertise to bear on a singular focus to advance the potential of protein design.

What is protein design?

Proteins are the molecular machines that make all living things hum — they stop deadly infections, heal cells and capture energy from the sun. Yet because our basic understanding of how proteins work has until now remained a mystery, humans have only been able to harness the power of proteins by modifying ones we happen to find in nature.

Enabled by decades of basic research, the rise of inexpensive computing, and the genomics revolution in reading and writing DNA, we can now design new proteins from scratch with specific functions.

Our scientists have developed catalysts for chemical reactions, HIV and RSV vaccine candidates, and experimental therapies for diseases such as cancer and the flu.

Research Areas

Protein Therapeutics
Computer-generated molecules that block infection, capture toxins, reprogram cells, and more.

Next-Generation Vaccines
Highly stable and customizable vaccines for influenza, HIV, cancer, and beyond.

Advanced Drug Delivery
Nanoscale protein assemblies that move therapeutics and more to specific cells within the body.

Algorithm Development
Biomolecular modeling and computational design are at the heart of everything we do.

Biological Devices
Programmable switches, sensors and machines that function inside cells.

Self-Assembling Nanomaterials
Atomically precise materials with applications in solar energy, imaging and basic research.

Bioactive Peptides
Chemically synthesized molecules with predictable structures and functions.

We are headquartered in the Molecular & Nanoengineering and Sciences Buildings at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Research Spotlight

Antiviral proteins for COVID-19

In a new paper in Science, we report the design of potent antiviral proteins that bind coronavirus spike proteins and prevent the virus from infecting human cells.

Beyond the Institute

From Research Into Company

PvP Biologics is a spinout from IPD that was recently acquired by Takeda. Their designer enzyme, KumaMax, looks to help those with Celiac disease. This exciting research began as a collaborative undergraduate project.

GET INVOLVED

Citizen Scientists

Computers are smart, but they sometimes miss important things because of the way they are programmed. The same goes for researchers. This is where Foldit comes in: everyday people playing Foldit can help discover better protein designs through their unique creativity and ingenuity.

Get started!