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Interplay of inherent promiscuity and specificity in protein biochemical function with applications to drug discovery and exome analysis

Award Number: R35GM118039
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/06/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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Interplay of inherent promiscuity and specificity in protein biochemical function with applications to drug discovery and exome analysis - PROJECT SUMMARY Although the past two decades witnessed the large-scale analyses of cellular components, e.g. exomes, their impact on drug discovery and precision medicine has been modest. For example, 6/7 drug candidates failed safety and 3/4 failed efficacy in recent FDA clinical trials. These unsolved, but related issues, safety and efficacy, reflect significant gaps in understanding of the triangular interrelationship between diseases, molecular function, and drug treatments. A key conceptual limitation of contemporary drug discovery is the often implicitly assumed single drug for a single protein target disease model. In reality, most diseases are caused by multiple malfunctioning molecules. Whether it be disease treatment or precision medicine diagnostics, there is often an inability to identify disease-associated mode of action (MOA) proteins. To begin to address these issues, in the current MIRA proposal, we developed a promising protein structure and network-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) approach, MEDICASCY, to predict disease-associated MOA proteins, drug indications, side effects and efficacy; however, much more needs to be done. Here, we propose to build on our successes and develop an integrated AI-based approach, MEDICASCY-X, that addresses the following: The first step in determining a drug’s MOA and off-target interactions is to identity its protein targets. This requires the structures of all human proteins and their complexes. While we predicted suitable models for at least one domain in 97% of human proteins, using deep learning, we will predict the structures of the missing domains, domain-domain orientations and protein- protein complexes. We will extend small molecule virtual ligand screening (VLS) to predict binding affinities based on the insight that interacting ring-protein subpocket geometries and chemistry are conserved across protein families, are often privileged chemical structures and are likely low free energy complexes. Cryptic protein pockets, recently recognized as important drug targets, will be predicted and included in our VLS approach. Antibody-based immunotherapies are powerful but have similar safety and efficacy issues as small-molecules; thus, their safety and efficacy will be predicted by MEDICASCY-X. While MEDICASCY works on an “averaged human”, MEDICASCY-X will consider individual genetic and epigenetic profiles to make it a true precision medicine tool. We will predict which MOA proteins should be targeted and if a protein’s MOA is due to a loss or gain of function. The same framework will predict synergistic drug-drug interactions. Another way to prioritize MOA proteins is by disease comorbidity: proteins occurring in multiple diseases are likely important. If disease comorbidity can be predicted, we will construct the “Phylogenetic” Tree(s) of Diseases that would facilitate a deeper understanding of disease interrelationships. As proof of principle of the effectiveness of the algorithms being developed, novel preclinical treatments for a variety of intractable diseases will be developed. Thus, this project could enhance the success rates of drug discovery and precision medicine while reducing time and cost.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $490,958 )
2025	2025	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	10	5/7/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$490,958
2025	2024	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	9	11/6/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $490,958

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $490,958 )
2024	2024	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	9	4/11/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$441,862
2024	2024	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	9	7/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$49,096
														Subtotal = $490,958

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $625,466 )
2023	2023	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	8	9/13/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$133,384
2023	2023	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	8	4/10/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$490,958
2023	2020	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	5	11/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,124
														Subtotal = $625,466

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $490,958 )
2022	2022	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	7	4/25/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$490,958
														Subtotal = $490,958

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $490,958 )
2021	2021	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	6	9/10/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,124
2021	2021	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	6	4/29/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$490,958
2021	2020	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	5	9/10/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1,124
														Subtotal = $490,958

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $489,717 )
2020	2020	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	926 DALNEY ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	5	5/1/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$489,717
														Subtotal = $489,717

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $489,717 )
2019	2019	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	505 10TH ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	5/7/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$489,717
														Subtotal = $489,717

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $739,717 )
2018	2018	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	505 10TH ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	9/20/2018	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$250,000
2018	2018	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	505 10TH ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	4/27/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$489,717
														Subtotal = $739,717

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $489,717 )
2017	2017	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	505 10TH ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	2	7/19/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$48,972
2017	2017	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	505 10TH ST NW	ATLANTA	GA	30318	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	5/1/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$440,745
														Subtotal = $489,717

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $489,511 )
2016	2016	GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION	HINMAN BUILDING	ATLANTA	GA	30332	FULTON	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	5/6/2016	NEW	$489,511
														Subtotal = $489,511

Grand Total All Awards = $5,287,677

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Interplay of inherent promiscuity and specificity in protein biochemical function with applications to drug discovery and exome analysis

Award Number: R35GM118039

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/06/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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