LG AI Research Develops Next-Generation Protein Structure Prediction AI for Drug Discovery

LG AI Research Collaborates with Seoul National University

LG AI Research has signed a joint research agreement with Prof. Min-Kyung Baek from the School of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University to develop a "next-generation protein structure prediction AI" 1

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. The collaboration, formalized on February 5, 2025, at LG Science Park in Seoul, aims to address current limitations in protein structure prediction technology 2

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The Importance of Protein Structure Prediction

Proteins are essential biomolecules involved in all activities of the human body. Predicting protein structures is crucial for creating a "digital cell map" that can be used throughout the process of identifying disease causes and accelerating new drug discovery 1

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. While global tech giants have made progress in predicting single protein structures, the challenge of predicting "multistate" protein structures remains unresolved 1

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Advancing AI Technology for Multistate Protein Prediction

LG AI Research, in collaboration with Prof. Baek's team, aims to develop an AI model capable of predicting multistate protein structures by the end of the year 2

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. This advancement is expected to provide deeper insights into biological processes and accelerate drug development, particularly for complex diseases like Alzheimer's 1

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Expertise and Collaboration

Prof. Min-Kyung Baek, a world-renowned expert in protein structure prediction, previously co-developed "RoseTTAFold" with Prof. David Baker from the University of Washington, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his AI-based research 1

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. The collaboration between LG AI Research and Prof. Baek's team aims to push protein structure prediction to a new level by incorporating verification and experimentation 1

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Potential Impact on Drug Discovery and Disease Research

Soonyoung Lee, Bio Intelligence Lab Leader at LG AI Research, emphasized the potential impact of this research on understanding and treating complex diseases: "The complexity of protein structures is at the heart of incurable diseases like Alzheimer's, and unraveling them is a highly challenging task. By developing AI for protein multistate structure prediction, we expect to achieve breakthroughs in understanding disease mechanisms and developing new treatments" 1

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LG's Commitment to Healthcare and Biotechnology

This research aligns with LG's broader focus on AI-driven healthcare solutions. The company has been collaborating with The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), a U.S.-based nonprofit genomics research organization, to develop predictive AI technologies for diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's and cancer 1

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LG Group Chairman and CEO Koo Kwang-mo recently emphasized the company's commitment to biotechnology in his 2025 new year address, stating, "Through healthcare solutions and innovative new medicines, we aim to help people spend more time with loved ones" 1

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. This collaboration is expected to be a significant milestone in achieving results from the convergence of AI and Biology, which are part of LG's future growth drivers in AI, Bio, and Cleantech (ABC) 1

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