Nobel laureate David Baker launches $95M AI biology lab betting against the 'virtual cell'
TheMoonMidas · x · 2026-09-11
Nobel laureate David Baker has launched AI BioDesign, a $95M AI biology lab backed by the Allen Institute, UW, and Fred Hutch, taking a contrarian bet on AI in biology.
- Instead of chasing a single general "virtual cell" model, the lab will build a suite of specialized models for specific design problems: cancer therapies, plastic-dissolving enzymes, and cells that navigate the body.
- Everything will be published open and free — the director says it's fine if a company takes the free data and builds a profitable drug.
A notable public route-bet in AI x biology worth tracking.
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