(Yicai) June 29 -- The Shanghai International Computational Biology Challenge, a global competition to find and promote talent in the field of artificial intelligence-based drug research and development, has kicked off, with the winners set to receive awards and funds to help them develop their discoveries.

The third annual competition has two tracks -- small-molecule design and antibody design -- addressing R&D challenges in viral infection and tumor immunotherapy, respectively. There are first, second, and third prizes for both tracks, as well as Excellence Awards, with corresponding disbursements of CNY100,000 (USD15,000), CNY30,000, CNY20,000 and CNY10,000.

In the small-molecule design track, the core target is the herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase (HSV Pol). Participating teams need to use AI and computational biology methods to screen candidate small molecules that can efficiently bind to and inhibit both the wild-type HSV Pol and common drug-resistant mutations, and verify their work through experiments.

The antibody design track focuses on poliovirus receptor-related immunoglobulin domain-containing protein (PVRIG) and its natural ligand PVRL2. Teams are required to design a specific antibody molecule that blocks the interaction between PVRIG and PVRL2, thereby relieving tumor-induced immunosuppression.

In the past few years, AI-based drug discovery has gradually developed from early concept validation to large-scale technological breakthroughs, and multinational pharmaceutical companies are stepping up their efforts in this field.

In January, US drugmaker Eli Lilly and chip giant Nvidia announced plans to invest up to USD1 billion over the next five years to build a joint laboratory for AI drug discovery. Earlier this month, South Korea’s SK Biopharmaceuticals reached an AI-driven drug R&D partnership with US-based Insilico Medicine, with the deal potentially worth over USD2.5 billion.

Against this backdrop, Shanghai will provide winning teams with a range of industrial support resources to help commercialize their innovations. For example, it will team up with leading biopharmaceutical companies, universities, colleges, and research institutes in the city to provide award winners with access to real-world experimental validation platforms and joint R&D opportunities.

Shanghai will also provide comprehensive support in patent filing, entrepreneurship training, investment and financing matchmaking, academic publishing, and talent development.

Bank of Shanghai will serve as a strategic partner for the challenge and will provide contestants with support including financial consulting and planning, as well as resource bridging.

Editor: Tom Litting