Kuwait's DDI uses AI to identify new drug targets for diabetes
Dr Anwar Mohammed, Head of the Precision Health Analysis Unit and Senior Scientist at DDI, led a research study that demonstrates how AI can revolutionize our understanding of complex biological structures related to diabetes. The research was recently published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
By using AlphaFold 3, a powerful AI model developed by Google DeepMind, Dr Anwar modeled the interaction between the KLF15 zinc finger domain and DNA — a key element in understanding type 2 diabetes at a molecular level.
The accuracy of 'AlphaFold 3' was confirmed by comparing the modeled structure with experimental X-ray crystallography data, said DDI in a press statement. Dr Anwar also incorporated molecular dynamics simulations and binding energy calculations to identify critical hotspots that could support the design of targeted therapies.
'These applications can help understand disease mechanisms and design targeted therapies which are anticipated to yield advancements in healthcare and drug discovery,' said the statement.
Dr Anwar's research highlights the growing role of AI in structural biology, a field that seeks to understand the three-dimensional structures of biomolecules like proteins and DNA and how that is related to their interactions. His findings emphasize AI's ability to accelerate the development of targeted therapies — especially crucial for chronic diseases like diabetes.
Dr Anwar also credited the institute and its founding organization for enabling this work. He expressed gratitude for DDI's and KFAS' continuous support for Kuwaiti scientists in the field of research, science and medicine. Founded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), Dasman Diabetes Institute has long been recognized as a regional leader in diabetes research. Its ongoing support of innovation continues to position Kuwait on the frontlines of global scientific progress.
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