Human Diseases and SNPS.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contribute to many human diseases. New experimental data associating increased disease risk with specific SNPs are tantalizing - they show connections to disease, but provide no mechanism. Our group is applying new models for predicting which SNPs are deleterious to protein function together with systems analysis in order to derive disease mechanisms and deduce possible new therapeutic strategies.

Protein Design
Recent developments in both computational and experimental techniques have led to the long held dream of designing proteins for any desired function coming close to reality. Applied protein design is now a major component of the UMBI signature program in Biomolecular and Biosystem Design. We are working together with experimental groups in UMBI to produce designs for a variety for applications.

Alternative Splicing
Alternative splicing is a common phenomenon in higher eukaryotes. A single pre-mRNA can produce many different mRNAs and protein products. It is believed that many of these protein products are responsible for diversify and fine tuning the functions of biological system. We are working on methods to predict functionality of transcripts on the basis of their impact on protein structure (www.as3d.org).