Award
NIH Reporter #1R35GM167013-01
Improving multi-scale characterization of nucleic acids and DNA nanotechnology toward therapeutic design
Recipient
University of New Mexico
Award Amount
$404,464.00
Ceiling
$404,464.00
Awarded
July 14, 2026
Identifier
1R35GM167013-01
The award supports research to develop machine learning models for quantum-accurate calculations of nucleic acids to improve therapeutic design and DNA nanotechnology applications.
Description
This project aims to develop a machine-learning capability to perform quantum-accurate electronic structure calculations for nucleic acid systems, enabling accurate characterization of ligand-receptor binding energetics for therapeutics and drug discovery. It also seeks to expand the design space of DNA nanotechnology by incorporating higher-order junctions and heterochiral junctions to create precision lattices and resist in vivo degradation, enabling novel therapeutic applications.