Dr. Laura Silvian, Sr. Director, leads the innovative Physical Biochemistry and Molecular Design group within the Biotherapeutic and Medicinal Sciences department at Biogen in Cambridge, MA. We use structure-based, rational drug design and biophysical assessments to improve potency, selectivity or developability of therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. We influence program team decisions in engineering different therapeutic modalities --biologics, small molecule, and gene therapy-- using cutting-edge techniques in structural biology, biophysical methods, and protein science.
In past years we have embraced several new technologies including:
• assembly of recombinant protein complexes including membrane proteins and RNA/protein complexes,
• small molecule compound binding measurements,
• Cryo-EM in addition to longstanding capabilities in X-ray Crystallography, and NMR for structure solution,
• and molecular design strategies for improved biologics efficacy and developability.
Laura is an inventor or coauthor on more than 40 publications and 5 patents on protein and RNA targets. She served as chair of the Industrial Scientific Interest group at the ACA, reviewed grants for Michael J Fox Foundation, and has chaired sessions at Discovery on Target conferences.