On the 6th, LG AI Research announced that it signed a joint research agreement with Professor Baek Min-kyung of Seoul National University's Department of Life Sciences on the development of next-generation protein structure prediction artificial intelligence (AI) at LG Science Park in Magok, Gangseo District, Seoul, on the 5th.
Proteins are representative biomolecules involved in all activities of the human body. To create a "digital cell map" that can be used throughout the entire process of identifying the causes of diseases and developing new drugs and treatments, technology for predicting protein structures is essential.
Global big tech corporations are also working on the development of protein prediction AI technology, but they are still in the stage of predicting and designing single protein structures. The technology to predict the structures of proteins, which exist in various states in the human body depending on environmental and chemical changes, remains a challenging task.
Professor Baek is recognized as a globally prominent researcher in the field of protein structure prediction. He developed "RoséTTAFold" in collaboration with David Baker, a professor at the University of Washington who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year for his research using AI. RoséTTAFold is a program that predicts and analyzes protein structures using AI.
LG AI Research stated that it plans to develop protein multi-state structure prediction AI in collaboration with Professor Baek's research team to surpass the limitations of existing technologies within the year.
Professor Baek said, "While artificial intelligence is an important tool in protein structure prediction, there has been a limitation in fully understanding the principles," adding, "Through joint research with LG AI Research, I will challenge a new stage of protein structure prediction that leads to verification and experimentation."
Meanwhile, LG expects that the speed of progress in discovering Alzheimer's factors and developing new drugs, which is ongoing with The Jackson Laboratory, a nonprofit research institution in the United States, will further increase through this joint research. Since early last year, LG AI Research has been conducting joint research on predictive AI technology that can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's and cancer with The Jackson Laboratory.
Koo Kwang-mo, chairman of LG Group, noted in his New Year's address this year, "We will challenge a future where we can be together longer with loved ones through innovative new drugs that treat intractable diseases," expressing his intention to nurture the bio business.