Panel Discussion: How Do We Push the Boundaries in Structure-Based Drug Design? What’s Next & What’s Needed?

9:00 am - Thursday 5th February 2026

As the toolbox of techniques and modalities continues to expand, structure-based drug design is at a crossroads. This interactive panel invites the audience and expert panellists to reflect on the most pressing challenges, biggest opportunities, and future directions to maximize the impact of structural insights on drug discovery.

Key Discussion Points:

  • What are the key bottlenecks still limiting the impact of SBDD (resolution, dynamics, integration, translation to clinic)?
  • Which emerging tools (AI, cryo-ET, integrative modelling, real-time structural methods) will reshape the field in the next 5 years?
  • How can we bridge the gap between structural data and actionable design decisions for both small molecules and biologics?
  • What collaborations, technologies, or standards are still needed to make SBDD more predictive and accessible?

Speakers:

Executive Director
Frontier Medicines
Executive Director - Structural Biology & Chemistry
Gilead Sciences
Former Senior Director & Head of Computational, Structural & Protein Sciences
Takeda Pharmaceutical
Head of Structural Biology for US Biologics Research
Sanofi
Senior Director, Structural Biology & Biophysics
Vertex Pharmaceuticals