ProtObs: Protein Observatory
Accelerating Biologics Discovery for Global Health
Open Research Data Initiative for Neglected and Emerging Infectious Diseases
Get involved: contact(a)bioDesyn.comAccelerating Biologics Discovery for Global Health
ProtObs is an Open Research Data (ORD) Initiative for Underserved Diseases. Structured as a nonprofit program, it is dedicated to accelerating the discovery of biologics for neglected and emerging infectious diseases. Its mission is to design protein-based interventions, therapeutic or prophylactic, with the potential to expand into vaccine development over time.
Target selection is guided by the WHO R&D Blueprint and the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases. Each target is evaluated using rigorous tractability criteria: antigenic diversity, structural knowledge, availability of broadly neutralizing antibodies, antigen design feasibility and safety, and compatibility with high-throughput screening platforms.
To advance these goals, ProtObs will host open design challenges, inviting protein engineering and AI-driven design teams to propose novel biologic solutions. All experimental data will be openly shared, benefiting the broader scientific and global health communities.
Endorsers are welcome to express support or contribute actively through our Scientific and Target Selection Council, ensuring scientific rigor and relevance.
Words from the Founder
"As a child, my dream was to make a difference in under-resourced countries by contributing to better healthcare. My path took me into science and strategy, but that drive to have an impact on global health has never left. It was there when I started accelerating drug discovery by integrating in silico tools with in vitro experiments at University of Cambridge, when I led a team focusing on emerging diseases at Janssen, when I worked at 130% during the pandemic at Lonza, and when I focused on increasing the performance and impact of the protein design team within GSK’s portfolio.
Today, I’m proud to bring together that experience in vaccines and biologics to create this nonprofit initiative. My hope is that, together, we can truly help close the gap where traditional drug development does not reach"
Daphné
Why ProtObs?
Accelerating Biologics Discovery for Global Health:Focusing on neglected and emerging infectious diseases that lack commercial incentives but have significant public health impact.
Enabling Real-World Impact for AI and Protein Design Teams:
ProtObs provides a unique opportunity for AI-driven teams and protein engineers to test and improve their models on targets with real-world relevance, beyond well-characterized benchmarks.
Open Data for Collective Progress:
All experimental data is shared openly, contributing to global health efforts and fostering pre-competitive collaboration.
Neutral, Nonprofit Structure:
Designed as a public-good initiative, free from commercial constraints, focused on scientific advancement and accessibility rather than proprietary development.
Benefits by Stakeholder
- Academia: Access to experimental validation for bold or novel ideas that typically struggle to secure funding.
- AI Teams: Develop algorithms and work on targets with real-world impact.
- Non-profits & Global Health Organizations: Receive openly accessible experimental data to accelerate drug discovery for underserved diseases.
- Biotech & Pharma Scouts: Identify promising protein designs early without upfront experimental costs, improving scouting efficiency.
- Investors: Gain visibility into cutting-edge protein designs and early-stage data, enhancing investment decisions.
- Public Health Stakeholders: Contribute to global health by supporting the development of biologics for neglected and emerging diseases.
- Screening Technology Providers: Showcase and validate high-throughput screening platforms by supporting open biologics discovery workflows with real-world targets.
How ProtObs Works
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Target Selection
- Based on the WHO R&D Blueprint and the Neglected Tropical Diseases list.
- Evaluated using tractability criteria: antigenic diversity, structural knowledge, availability of broadly neutralizing antibodies, antigen design feasibility and safety, and compatibility with high-throughput screening platforms.
- Guided by the Scientific and Target Selection Council, involving endorsers and global health experts.
-
Open Design Challenges
- Inviting protein engineering and AI-driven design teams to propose novel biologic solutions.
- Focusing on therapeutic or prophylactic protein-based interventions, with potential expansion into vaccine development.
-
Experimental Validation
- Biologic designs tested using high-throughput screening platforms provided by partners.
- Three iterative design rounds per target to optimize candidates.
-
Open Data Sharing
- All experimental data shared in an Open Research Data (ORD) format.
- Contributors and participating teams cited and acknowledged.
- Based on the WHO R&D Blueprint and the Neglected Tropical Diseases list.
- Evaluated using tractability criteria: antigenic diversity, structural knowledge, availability of broadly neutralizing antibodies, antigen design feasibility and safety, and compatibility with high-throughput screening platforms.
- Guided by the Scientific and Target Selection Council, involving endorsers and global health experts.
- Inviting protein engineering and AI-driven design teams to propose novel biologic solutions.
- Focusing on therapeutic or prophylactic protein-based interventions, with potential expansion into vaccine development.
- Biologic designs tested using high-throughput screening platforms provided by partners.
- Three iterative design rounds per target to optimize candidates.
- All experimental data shared in an Open Research Data (ORD) format.
- Contributors and participating teams cited and acknowledged.