AI BioDesign: $95M AI Biology Lab Tests Models

A new $95 million AI biology lab, AI BioDesign, is set to test every model proposal in the real world. This Seattle collaboration involves the Allen Institute, the University of Washington, and Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Here's the thing: their method uses a repeating cycle. AI models propose biological designs, scientists then build and test them at scale, and those measurements improve the next round of models. This research commitment is for nearly $95 million and at least five years. What's interesting is that the first targets include proteins designed to bind to disease-related targets, genetic switches, and systems that destroy or stabilize proteins. This means they are focusing on experimental design tasks, not therapies ready for patients. The funding comes from The Fund for Science and Technology, providing $94.6 million over the research period. The new laboratory is located at Dexter Yard in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. The bottom line is that this approach integrates lab results directly into the AI's learning process, potentially leading to new biological discoveries.