As a Senior R&D leader, Ilaria has successfully navigated the dynamic landscape of Vaccine Research and Development. Her track record demonstrates strategic planning, execution, and the introduction of innovative approaches and novel concepts to support business goals. Her expertise lies at the intersection of Structural Biology and AI/ML, where she has driven breakthroughs that advance vaccine discovery and development.
Structural biology is playing an increasingly central role in modern discovery pipelines. From your perspective, what are the biggest ways structural insight is shaping decision-making in vaccine and therapeutic development today? Where do you see the greatest opportunities for technologies to meaningfully support structure-based discovery workflows?
Structural biology is driving smarter decisions in vaccines and therapeutics by showing exactly where and how molecules interact—helping teams pick and optimize epitopes, stabilize functional conformations, engineer antibodies for potency and breadth, and reveal novel small‑molecule binding sites so we can prioritize candidates with higher chances of success. Right now, AI and data‑driven models offer the biggest gains by filling structural gaps quickly, automating cryo‑EM/map interpretation, generating and prioritizing new binders or ligand ideas, and providing fast, learned surrogates for affinity and selectivity to focus experimental effort. Put together, clear structures plus AI‑powered design and active learning shorten design–test cycles, reduce risk, and open targets we couldn’t tackle before — I’m excited to see these approaches come together at the summit!
You are an active member of WEINSPIRE BIO, a network supporting women in structural biology and drug discovery. Could you share a little about the goals of the initiative and why communities like this are important for the field?
I’m proud and excited to be part of WEINSPIRE BIO — we support women in structural biology and drug discovery with mentorship, practical training, visibility so they can grow into leadership. We work to remove clear barriers like systemic bias, lack of mentors and sponsors, few visible role models, limited access to networks and funding, and the work–life balance challenges. Communities like this are vital because diverse teams make better science and get treatments to patients faster, and I can’t wait to meet people at the summit and help turn that support into real change.
What are you most looking forward to discussing or learning from your peers at the Structure-Based Drug Design Summit this July in Boston?
I’m excited to hear practical, real‑world examples of how teams combine structural biology, AI and biophysics to speed lead optimization—and to come away with a few actionable techniques I can try with my team next week!
Why do you think forums like the Structure-Based Drug Design Summit are important for the scientific community right now?
They bring experts from different disciplines together to share what actually works (and what doesn’t), spark collaborations, and help new methods move faster from bench to patient—accelerating real impact.
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Preview expert-led case studies on AI-enabled structure-based drug design, cryo-EM breakthroughs and complex target biology, alongside interactive discussions and hands-on workshops across three content-rich days.
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