Q&A: How UW researchers are using AI to speed up drug discovery and development
The University of Washington’s new Institute for Innovations in Drug Discovery and Disposition (I2D3) is bringing together experts in artificial intelligence, drug discovery, pharmacology, data science, and biotechnology to accelerate the development of new medicines by addressing critical challenges beyond initial molecule discovery.
The institute’s three co-directors explained that while AI has made it faster to identify promising drug candidates, many compounds still fail because they cannot safely reach the right target in the body or meet other pharmaceutical requirements. Marco Pravetoni said, “There remains a critical translational space between discovery and clinical application…That’s where I2D3 can play a leading role,” describing the institute’s role in bridging scientific innovation with successful therapeutic development.
By strengthening the pathway from discovery to commercialization, I2D3 reinforces Washington’s leadership in advancing AI-enabled drug development and translational research.