University of Washington — Syphilis Vaccine Development (David Baker and Neil King)

[Human Health and Wellbeing] Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $283,539 to the University of Washington to support research by David Baker and Neil King on developing a vaccine for syphilis. Baker and King are participating in a collaborative project with Kelly Hawley and Melissa Caimano at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Lorenzo Giacani at the University of Washington, and Anastassia Vorobieva at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology. (See “Related Items” below.) The project will use recent advances in machine learning to carry out synthetic protein design, leveraging Baker and King’s earlier research. Proteins from the pathogen have been redesigned to facilitate tests of their utility as potential components of a future syphilis vaccine. This falls within our focus area of scientific research, specifically within our interest in advancing human health and wellbeing.