Andrej Sali

Andrej Sali, PhD, is a Professor of Bioengineering at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the School of Pharmacy. His research focuses on computational methods to study protein structure and function, including predicting protein structures, analyzing macromolecular assemblies, and annotating protein functions using structural data. This work bridges genomics and medicine, enhancing the impact of structural and functional genomics.

Research Interests: Dr. Sali integrates physics-based computational models and evolutionary principles to address fundamental questions in structural biology. His lab develops methods for protein structure prediction, structural genomics, and modeling dynamic biological processes. Key areas include nuclear pore complex assembly, molecular mechanisms of transporters, and integrative modeling platforms like the Integrative Modeling Platform (IMP).

Grants & Funding: He has led/co-investigated numerous NIH-funded projects, including:

• NIH S10OD021596 (2016-2017) for high-performance computing infrastructure
• NIH P01GM111126 (2015-2020) on transmembrane transporter conformational cycles
• NIH P41RR001081 (1976-2012) for Biocomputing resources

Awards & Honors: Recognized with prestigious awards such as the Zois Award (2000-2003), Irma T. Hirschl Career Award (1998-2000), and election to the National Academy of Sciences (2018). His work has been supported by grants from the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund and Merck Sharp & Dohm.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Sali Lab at UCSF, collaborating on cutting-edge projects such as nuclear pore complex dynamics, drug resistance mechanisms, and structural modeling of biomolecular systems.