What to Expect at the 2nd Structure Based Drug Design Summit San Diego?
The 2nd Structure-Based Drug Design Summit San Diego is designed to equip structural biologists, computational and medicinal chemists, and drug discovery teams with the strategies needed to translate high-resolution structural insight into higher quality, developable drug candidates, faster.
Join 60+ structural biologists, computational chemists, medicinal chemists, and biopharma leaders for three days of in-depth technical discussion focused on advancing structure-based drug design from target characterization through candidate optimization.
This year's agenda tackles the field's most pressing challenges, including integrating AI-enabled structure prediction with experimental validation, resolving conformational dynamics and cryptic pockets, characterizing challenging membrane and multi-protein targets, scaling cryo-EM throughput through automation, and extending SBDD principles beyond small molecules into biologics, peptides, and degraders.
You will gain practical insights into de novo protein design, construct design and protein expression, multi-technique structural workflows combining cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and NMR, structure-guided medicinal chemistry, and strategies for translating atomic-level insights into compound design hypotheses to accelerate candidate selection and improve developability.
With expert-led case studies, emerging structural datasets, interactive panel discussions, focused pre-conference workshops, and 8+ hours of dedicated networking, this summit provides the scientific, technical, and strategic insights needed to confidently advance the next generation of structure-enabled drug discovery.
Unmissable Event Highlights
Integrating AI & De Novo Design with Experimental Structural Validation
As AI and de novo structure-prediction tools surge into the spotlight, developers are focused on determining how to integrate these computational advances with experimental methods without losing rigor on construct optimization, conformational flexibility, and complex biology. Explore how benchmarking, wet-lab validation, and robust frameworks are helping teams separate genuinely actionable AI/ML tools from hype and build confidence across SBDD workflows.
With Expert Insights From:
- Scientists advancing AI-enabled structure prediction and de novo protein design platforms
- Leaders benchmarking AI/ML models against real-world experimental data
- Computational and structural biologists integrating predictive tools with wet-lab validation
Solving Structures for Complex Targets & Emerging Modalities
As the field pushes beyond conventional, well-behaved targets, developers are focused on resolving conformational dynamics, cryptic pockets, and challenging membrane and multi-protein complexes. Discover how cryo-EM, cryo-tomography, and in-cell structural approaches are expanding the druggable target space and enabling structural insight into previously intractable biology.
With Expert Insights From:
- Structural biologists advancing cryo-EM and cryo-ET for complex biological systems
- Scientists characterizing membrane proteins, GPCRs, and multi-protein assemblies
- Experts translating emerging structural information into drug discovery strategies
Overcoming Cryo-EM Bottlenecks Through Automation & Scalable Workflows
Long data collection times, limited microscope access, and manual structure building continue to restrict the number of structures discovery teams can generate. Learn how automated data processing, microfluidic sample preparation, and AI-enabled workflows are helping teams scale cryo-EM throughput and deliver more actionable structures, faster.
With Expert Insights From:
- Cryo-EM specialists and technology developers advancing automated workflows
- Leaders tackling sample preparation, grid development, and data quality challenges
- Scientists scaling structure determination across large discovery pipelines
Extending SBDD Beyond Conventional Small Molecules
Structure-based drug design has traditionally been strongest when applied to well-defined protein-ligand interactions, but the rise of protein degraders, biologics, and other complex modalities is challenging teams to rethink how structural information should be interpreted and applied. Explore how structural insight is informing molecular glue and PROTAC design, biologic developability, and next-generation therapeutic modalities.
With Expert Insights From:
- Scientists advancing structural biology for targeted protein degradation
- Leaders applying structure to biologics, bispecifics, and fusion protein design
- Experts adapting structural workflows for complex therapeutic modalities
Translating Structural Insights into Better, More Developable Drug Candidates
Structural biology delivers its greatest value when insights are generated early enough and applied broadly enough to influence drug design. Discover how teams are bridging structural information with candidate progression to improve not only binding affinity, but also stability, expression, and developability across the discovery pipeline.
With Expert Insights From:
- Structural and computational scientists bringing structural information earlier into discovery
- Leaders connecting structure-guided design with hit-to-lead and candidate selection
- Experts translating atomic-level insight into broader molecular optimization strategies
Explore the Full Event Guide
- 17 New Expert Speakers Sharing Exclusive Insights Across Structural Biology, Computational Chemistry, Cryo-EM, and Medicinal Chemistry for Structure-Based Drug Design
- 10 New Companies Joining the Speaker Faculty, Bringing Fresh Case Studies and Perspectives from Across West Coast Pharma, Biotech, and Academia
- 8+ Hours of Dedicated Networking Opportunities Including Speed Networking, the Poster Session & Networking Drinks Reception, and Interactive Roundtable Discussions
- 2 Deep-Dive Pre-Conference Workshops Focused on Integrating the Structural Biology Toolbox and Applying AI & Machine Learning to Structure-Based Drug Design
- New Sessions on Overcoming Cryo-EM Bottlenecks Through Automation & Scalable Workflows, Highlighting Emerging Throughput, Sample Preparation, and Data Processing Solutions
- Expanded Discussions on Pushing the Boundaries of Druggability, Engineering Functional Biologics, and Tackling Complex Targets & Modalities Beyond Conventional Small Molecules
New Companies for 2027
Explore the Agenda
Discover the latest strategies to integrate AI-enabled structure prediction, de novo design, and experimental validation for structure-based drug design through expert-led case studies, technical deep dives, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.
Partner With Us
Showcase your technologies, platforms, and services to structural biologists, computational chemists, and drug discovery leaders actively tackling structural bottlenecks and seeking partners to accelerate discovery, validation, and candidate progression.
Join Structure-Based Drug Design Leaders
Connect with structural biologists, computational and medicinal chemists, and drug discovery experts driving the next generation of structure-enabled discovery through innovation in target characterization, molecule design, and structural validation.