The Front Row at Scripps Research: lecture with Christian Diercks, PhD
About this Event
Accelerating evolution to create new medicines with Christian Diercks, PhD
Biologic drugs account for about a quarter of recent drug approvals, and most are antibodies. Although antibodies have transformed treatment for many conditions, they mainly work by binding to their targets. But some diseases may benefit more from therapeutics that can selectively alter those targets instead. In this free Front Row lecture, Assistant Professor Christian Diercks will discuss how he harnesses accelerated evolution—a laboratory process that speeds up cycles of genetic change and selection—to engineer therapeutic enzymes that actively break down or modify disease-related molecules. At the center of this work is T7-ORACLE, a synthetic biology platform developed by Diercks' lab. It continuously introduces mutations into selected genes in bacteria to rapidly evolve proteins, including enzymes, at large scale with minimal researcher intervention. The Diercks lab is using T7-ORACLE to evolve enzymes for the selective degradation of the painful crystals behind gout flares, and to target voltage-gated ion channels involved in chronic pain, as a non-addictive alternative to opioid-based therapeutics.
About Scripps Research
Committed to unraveling the intricacies of the human body and translating our discoveries into tangible global impact, Scripps Research is consistently ranked among the most influential non-profit research institutes in the world. Throughout our 100-year history, our scientists have expanded the boundaries of scientific understanding and played a pivotal role in the development of 18 FDA-approved medicines that have impacted the lives of countless individuals worldwide.
The Front Row lecture series, now in its ninth season, offers an exclusive glimpse into groundbreaking scientific discoveries in action. Many of these breakthroughs are the result of years of tireless work—made possible by the support of our community.
As we enter another century of science changing life at Scripps Research, our focus remains the same: fueling world-class fundamental and translational research to accelerate the development of medical advances for the benefit of human health.
Where is it happening?
USD 0.00
