QCRG Mentored Project Awardee

Project: "Leveraging differences in conformational entropy of macrodomain genetic variation to gain molecule binding affinity and specificity"

Q1. What is your project focused on?

• My project focuses on designing better drug candidates (potential drugs) against the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and other related viruses. Scientists optimize how strongly a drug candidate binds or connects to a SARS-CoV-2 protein driven by many different components. My project works on a frequently ignored component called ENTROPY! By considering how drug candidates change the entropy, we aim to make drug candidates that bind stronger, thus making improved drug candidates and having a better chance of killing SARS-CoV-2 or another virus.

Q2. How does your project align with the Center’s objectives?

• My project directly feeds into the Center’s goal of discovering and developing inhibitors for key viral proteins. By taking an orthogonal approach to drug design, but focusing on entropy, my work can be integrated and support all of the other amazing drug design projects going on through QCRG that mainly focus on other ways to identify and optimize drug targets.

Q3. What is the most inspiring aspect about your project/research focus?

• I am inspired to build on long-known theoretical knowledge about a basic part of the energetics of drug or ligand binding and apply it to real-world examples and potential drugs. This approach has the potential to improve our ability to rationally design drugs. Before working at UCSF, I was a clinical trials researcher, interacting with patients getting experimental treatment daily. I think of those people every day, remembering the real impact that our science can have.

Q4. Do you think collaboration is important for the progression of your research? If so, why are you interested in connecting with members of the QCRG?

• Collaboration is key to make continuous scientific advancement. As I stated in how my research will support the center’s goals, my project would not be possible without all the other amazing drug discovery efforts occurring within QCRG and outside of QCRG. We all have different expertise and approaches. The best way to get anything done is by working with people who think differently than you do.

Q5. How has mentorship played a role in your scientific career? What do you think is the value of helping younger scientists learn from your knowledge?

• Mentorship is everything in science! I have been lucky to find excellent mentors at every career stage. Mentoring younger scientists and creating environments where everyone can thrive is central to advancing science. As a mentor, I aim to help develop confidence and self-efficacy, and provide them with a sense of belonging and community within their field.

Q6. What are your thoughts on the importance of building pandemic preparedness?

• Our global pandemic preparedness is paramount. COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic that will impact the world in my lifetime. But as any new virus that appears has to evolve from existing viruses, there are a lot of tools and knowledge that we can build now to tackle whatever is presented to us in the future. We must use this time to continue fighting for those effected by COVID-19 and build on that momentum and knowledge to be able to fight the next pandemic more effectively.