Research
Virtual Reality technology for small molecular drug discovery
LifeArc
A project by an industrial placement student led to Virtual Reality becoming a powerful tool for drug discovery at LifeArc.
The Challenge
Computer-assisted drug design only allowed visualization in two dimensions, missing the immersive interactive component needed for structural analysis.
The Solution
VR allows scientists to stand anywhere inside or outside of a molecule, giving new insights into how candidate drugs might interact. Multiple scientists can share the same VR experience in real time across thousands of miles.
Results
- Developing a full suite of VR-based drug discovery tools
- Platform can be enhanced to view surface antigens on viruses or tumor cells
- Real-time collaboration across institutions worldwide
- VR-based discovery tools ready for broader applicability
“[Nanome] gives us insights into relationships that we just can't see on a conventional screen.”