“Acceptance Speech” Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2023 in Biology and Biomedicine

Acceptance speech by David Baker, winner of the 2023 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biology and Biomedicine, who was honored alongside Demis Hassabis and John Michael Jumper for their contributions to the use of artificial intelligence to accurately predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Baker developed RoseTTAFold, a deep learning-based tool that enables researchers to study protein structures and facilitates the design of new proteins with specific functions.

Baker explains how advances in artificial intelligence have transformed protein design, making it possible to create and experimentally test hundreds of thousands of protein structures not found in nature. He highlights their potential to develop new treatments for cancer and infectious diseases, as well as more sustainable materials and technologies. He also emphasizes the importance of accelerating these discoveries through computational tools to address urgent biomedical and environmental challenges.