Development of likelihood-based methods in structural biology

Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of biological molecules, such as proteins, DNA and RNA, underpins any detailed understanding of biological processes and is an essential part of drug development. Cryo-electron microscopy and tomography allow us to see individual molecules and their environment in the cell.

We develop new computational tools designed to make the best possible use of data from experiments that make pictures of 3D structures using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. Our goal is to achieve a more precise image than previous methods could achieve using the same data, or to determine structures from poorer quality data.

These tools will make it possible to solve challenging structures for proteins that have fundamental relevance for human health.