New biocomputing lab in UAE to aim for breakthroughs in drug design

New biocomputing lab in UAE to aim for breakthroughs in drug design

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is set to get a biocomputing innovation research laboratory to address “critical life science needs”. The university has signed an agreement with biotech company BioMap to develop the lab, which will be one of the first in the Middle East. The agreement was signed by BioMap vice president of strategic development Jiarun Qu, and MBZUAI deputy department chair of machine learning and director of the Centre for Integrative Artificial Intelligence (CIAI), Dr Kun Zhang. The two parties will collaborate on the application of AI protein generation capabilities to large-scale life science models in order to help promote sustainable development, and improve human health in the Middle East. “We’re excited to partner with BioMap on this groundbreaking project. We will collaborate to fast-track both energy sustainability solutions and the creation of new drugs that could help treat aging-associated diseases. The university is establishing itself in the AI and healthcare space, with faculty and students dedicated to research that is making drug design faster, more affordable and more sustainable,” Dr Zhang said. The two parties will focus on creating breakthroughs in line with the needs of the Middle East’s most