Structural Biology
Understanding protein structure provides powerful mechanistic insight, reveals opportunities for therapeutic intervention, and can guide therapeutic development. I help clients design and execute structural biology strategies – from experimental workflows to data interpretation – and provide critical guidance to de-risk CRO engagements or build in-house capabilities.
Structure Determination
Generating high-resolution and insightful structures requires careful planning and execution across multiple steps. I support clients with strategy, technical expertise, and project oversight to increase the chances of success.
Services include:
- Structural feasibility assessments – evaluate whether a target is tractable and recommend the most appropriate approach
- Experimental planning – design gene-to-structure workflows tailored to project goals
- Data collection and processing – guide experimental setup, data acquisition, and quality control
- CRO oversight – help select structural biology partners, draft work plans, manage projects, and interpret vendor data
Model Building & Refinement
Turning density into interpretable models requires both technical skill and biological insight. I assist clients in converting raw data into reliable, publication- or decision-ready structures.
Services include:
- Model building and refinement – build and refine atomic models into electron density or cryo-EM maps, applying best practices for accuracy and stereochemistry
- Quality assessment and validation – review models (internal or CRO-provided) for reliability, gaps, or artifacts, providing independent validation for decision-making
Structural Analysis & Interpretation
The real value of a structure is in what it reveals about biology or druggability. I help clients translate structural data into actionable insights.
Services include:
- Mechanistic insight – explain how structural features and genetic variants affect protein function, stability, or regulation
- Ligand binding analysis – evaluate binding pockets, rationalize ligand affinity or selectivity, and identify opportunities for optimization
- Integration with orthogonal data – combine structural insights with biochemical, biophysical, or modeling results for a unified mechanistic picture
- Therapeutic opportunity mapping – summarize structural data in the context of target biology and propose drug discovery strategies
Computational Approaches
Structural insights can often be extended or generated in the absence of experimental data. I provide computational support that complements or guides wet-lab work.
Services include:
- Homology modeling – extend beyond AlphaFold by using related structures to model alternative conformations and functional states
- Docking studies – perform ligand or peptide docking to prioritize compounds or binding sites
- Comparative structural analysis – assess related structures to identify conserved or divergent features relevant to drug design
Communication & Visualization
Clear communication of structural findings can be as valuable as the data itself. I help clients prepare visualizations and narratives that make structural insights accessible to multiple audiences.
Services include:
- Publication- and presentation-ready figures – generate high-quality structural figures and animations
- Stakeholder communication – translate complex structural findings into clear messages for investors, collaborators, or cross-functional teams
Why Partner with Me?
With experience ranging from solving novel protein structures to guiding industry programs, I bring hands-on expertise with both experimental and computational structural biology. Whether your team needs full strategic oversight or targeted advice on a specific dataset, I provide practical, unbiased guidance to maximize the impact of structural insights on discovery programs.
Interested in working together? Contact me