Masaya Yamaguchi
Principal Scientist Pfizer
I am a +10 years experienced scientist with multidisciplinary expertise in structural biology, biochemistry, molecular biology and protein engineering. My research has covered a wide array of targets such as protein degradation, kinases and other gene families. I have a strong passion for drug discovery by using my skills and knowledge in order to find first-in-class therapies.
Seminars
Thursday 30th July 2026
Harnessing the Strength of Structural Analysis to Reveal Hidden Binding Opportunities in Complex Targets
1:30 pm
- Comparing apo versus ligand-bound structures across cryo-EM and crystallography datasets to detect induced-fit or cryptic pocket formation which enable alternate binding sites
- Addressing experimental challenges in resolving low-occupancy or transient pockets, including sample heterogeneity, preferred orientation, and conformational averaging in cryo-EM datasets
- Reviewing computational strategies for predicting and optimizing binding modes, and retrospectively benchmarking against internal structural data sets to drive confidence in predictive models
