Sci-Fi Medicine: From Smart Gels to AI Drug Design

Hydrogels, we all sort of know what they are… but not really. These “jelly-like” materials aren’t just lab curiosities; they’re already hiding in plain sight in our daily lives, from contact lenses to diapers and even some foods. In this talk, we’ll uncover where they’re lurking and explore how they’re being used in surprising ways, from healing the body to delivering drugs and even powering soft, lifelike robots.

Proteins are everywhere in our bodies and are often used to treat different diseases. In this talk I will be discussing some techniques that we are exploring to potentially improve its therapeutic potential along with some tools and methods we utilize to help reach these results.

How is artificial intelligence changing the way we invent medicines? AI is driving a new era of drug discovery, spanning pharma giants, tech companies, and everyday lab workers. This is sparking new debates about breakthrough potential, real‑world limitations, bias, and ethics in drug discovery.