Three scientists have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their significant contributions to computational protein design and protein structure prediction. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that David Baker of the University of Washington, along with Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper from Google DeepMind, are this year’s recipients.
Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee in Chemistry, highlighted the importance of Baker’s work, stating, “This is the problem that David Baker solved. He developed computational tools that now enable scientists to design spectacular new proteins with entirely novel shapes and functions, opening endless possibilities for the greatest benefit to humankind.” Erin O’Shea, President of HHMI, praised Baker for his revolutionary work, emphasizing that it has already led to numerous discoveries and advancements in medical therapies.
Baker has been involved in the intricacies of protein folding since his undergraduate studies at Harvard. Despite initial discouragement from professors regarding the study of protein folding, he pursued the topic further when he established his own lab. In 1998, he developed the Rosetta program, which predicts protein structures based on amino acid sequences. Due to the intensive computational efforts required for protein predictions, he introduced Rosetta@home, allowing volunteers to contribute their computing power. The success of this initiative was followed by the launch of Foldit, an online game enabling players to assist in protein folding.
In 2021, Baker’s team introduced RoseTTAFold, a deep learning tool that enhances the speed and accuracy of protein structure predictions. Using this software, researchers can determine the structure of proteins in as little as 10 minutes, a process that otherwise could take years.
Transitioning from analyzing existing proteins to creating new ones, Baker’s research now focuses on de novo protein design. This innovative approach allows his team to engineer proteins with unique sequences, resulting in applications such as flu protection for animals, new catalytic reactions, and advancements in vaccine development, including a computationally designed COVID-19 vaccine.
Baker, who has been an HHMI Investigator since 2000, has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences. He is celebrated as one of 35 scientists from HHMI to have won a Nobel Prize, following Carolyn Bertozzi, who received the award in 2022 for her work in click chemistry.
HHMI stands as the largest private biomedical research institution in the U.S., committed to advancing human health and biology. The organization also invests in science education and has recently announced a $500 million initiative to support AI-driven projects in life sciences.