Avner Schlessinger

Computational biologist. Professor. Co-Director of Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics Training Area @IcahnMountSinai. Opinions are mine. #DrugDesign #AI

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

Check out this excellent @cenmag piece by @AayushiPratap on how AI is transforming drug discovery.
Our work at @IcahnMountSinai Mount Sinai’s AI Small Molecule Drug Discovery Center is featured.
https://t.co/JHtnkEA5xp
#AI #DrugDiscovery #Pharma

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

I spoke with @Tech_Networks about Anthropic's move into wet-lab research and what it could mean for drug discovery https://t.co/Ufk5czDg4U

[Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai @IcahnMountSinai]

Scientists at Mount Sinai have uncovered the first high-resolution structure of NBCn2, a brain protein linked to epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurological conditions, and developed the first compounds capable of inhibiting its activity.

Published in @NatureComms, the study used cryo-electron microscopy to capture the first highly detailed structural images of NBCn2, revealing how it transports sodium and carbonate ions that help regulate cellular acidity and control brain cell activity. The researchers also found that the way NBCn2 binds these ions differs from related proteins, suggesting that even closely related transporters may operate in distinct ways.

The findings could help researchers better study disorders involving excessive neuronal activity and provide a new framework for understanding how altered brain signaling contributes to disease — potentially advancing future therapeutic research.

Learn more about the research: https://t.co/QnTX2Rrh3T

@MSHSNeurology @SinaiBrain @SinaiGenetics @SchlessingerLab
#Neuroscience #Research #BrainResearch #Epilepsy

[Friedman Brain Institute @SinaiBrain]

Researchers @WackerLab, et al. have uncovered first hi-res structure of NBCn2, a brain protein linked to #Epilepsy, #AutismSpectrumDisorder & other neurological conditions, & developed first compounds capable of inhibiting its activity. PRESS RELEASE 👉
https://t.co/M2ry5KCcoZ

[J. Am. Chem. Soc. @J_A_C_S]

Allosteric Inhibition of PKMYT1 Induces a Unique, Inactive ATP Binding Site Conformation | Journal of the American Chemical Society https://t.co/I0oElkLsXl

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

AI accurately captured a known kinase conformation, but missed the cryptic pocket observed experimentally. We also found that subtle chemical changes can shift molecules between distinct binding modes, highlighting the need to combine computation and experiments in drug discovery

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

New paper from the lab. Using AI-guided modeling and experiments, we identified a hidden allosteric pocket in the cancer kinase PKMYT1. Led by @NHerrington24 in collaboration with @LazarusLab https://t.co/TOVfd0tesd

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

Great The Scientist piece: two harmful mutations can restore protein function—challenging how we view genetic risk. I share my take on the structural logic behind this and relevance to drug discovery.

My perspective https://t.co/lrCnq19Mhe
Original study https://t.co/w2W27ldIVX

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

My interview with Technology Networks on rethinking target-based drug discovery. We discuss why target-first approaches often fail and how AI and structure-guided methods can better link targets to therapeutic impact.
https://t.co/fozlpQDs2H
#DrugDiscovery #AIDrugDiscovery
🔗

[Yuval Itan @ItanLab]

V2P (variant-to-phenotype) is live: https://t.co/0wWrpkq3ni
To our knowledge, first genomewide SNVs+indels (coding+noncoding incl. intergenic) model jointly predicting pathogenicity + disease domain (23 HPO groups; e.g. cardiac/immune/metabolic).
@david_stientist @SchlessingerLab

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

Check out our new paper introducing V2P — a method that predicts both variant pathogenicity and disease phenotype across 23 HPO categories. With @ItanLab and @david_stientist and others
https://t.co/izpO2ngO30
Server: https://t.co/YOrYAEpfz7

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

Amazing collaboration. So glad to see it published!

[Yuval Itan @ItanLab]

V2P (variant-to-phenotype) is live: https://t.co/0wWrpkq3ni
To our knowledge, first genomewide SNVs+indels (coding+noncoding incl. intergenic) model jointly predicting pathogenicity + disease domain (23 HPO groups; e.g. cardiac/immune/metabolic).
@david_stientist @SchlessingerLab

[Grad School at Icahn Mount Sinai @GradSchoolSinai]

Do you know what a PhD in Biomedical Sciences or Neuroscience can do for your career? Join us tomorrow from 4-5pm ET for a special information session featuring alumni from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences: https://t.co/G7kNfwUqVY

[Daniel Wacker @WackerLab]

Our latest work: As it turns out different positive allosteric modulators bind to different sites at the mu opioid receptor. Find out more in our @biorxivpreprint.
https://t.co/lorGBe427R

[C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag]

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being embedded in every aspect of the drug discovery and development process. Despite AI’s use at each step, the billion-dollar question is whether it can bring a larger number of novel drugs to market. https://t.co/a9sB43lnQk

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

Interesting read: Structural insights into brain thyroid hormone transport via MCT8 and OATP1C1: Cell https://t.co/7ZU6jhOiDm

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

@IgorUlitsky Congratulations, Igor!

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

@barak_hirshberg @AmerChemSociety @ACSCOMP @OpenEyeSoftware @bobbypaton @zoecournia @JoshVermaas @chemistrytau @BioSoftTAU Congrats!

[Aya Osman, PhD @AyaOsman]

Official announcement: this September 1, the Osman laboratory will be opening its doors in the biological sciences department at SUNY, Albany!

Anyone interested in joining the lab, please contact me.

[email protected]

Lab website coming soon!

@ualbany

[Avner Schlessinger @SchlessingerLab]

⁦@SchlessingerLab⁩ lab retreat 2025!