UNTHSC’s Dr. David Siderovski named top AI Leader for drug discovery
Dr. David Siderovski, professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, has been named one of the region’s top 75 leaders in artificial intelligence by Dallas Innovates and the Dallas Regional Chamber.
Now in its second year, the AI 75 list recognizes innovators across Dallas-Fort Worth who are shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Honorees include academic researchers, industry leaders and forward-thinking entrepreneurs transforming everything from healthcare to transportation. For Siderovski, the honor spotlights years of pioneering work in AI-driven drug discovery that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This recognition is truly special to me on both personal and professional levels,” Siderovski said. “It’s incredibly humbling and exciting to see our work highlighted five years after it first began, and professionally, it validates that we’re on the right path.”
Since receiving National Eye Institute funding for a multi-year glaucoma research project, Siderovski’s team has screened nearly two trillion compounds virtually—an effort powered by artificial intelligence and targeting a key protein-protein interaction in the eye. The next step: validating top candidates in the lab using surface plasmon resonance, a biophysical technique Siderovski has used for nearly 30 years.
“The synergy of AI predictions and hands-on experimental testing is accelerating our progress,” Siderovski said. “We’re excited about the prospects of creating a truly novel glaucoma therapy.”
Siderovski believes AI is opening new doors in drug discovery, particularly for conditions previously considered untreatable.
“With AI, we can now revisit biological targets once deemed ‘undruggable,’” Siderovski said. “From tough protein–protein interactions, like in glaucoma, to neurodegenerative disorders, AI opens up treatment possibilities where none existed—and may even pave the way for personalized medicines tailored to each patient.”
Beyond glaucoma, Siderovski’s lab is applying this AI-driven approach to other critical health challenges. In the fight against opioid addiction, the team has identified promising compounds that may relieve pain without addictive side effects—research supported by seed funding from UNTHSC’s Division of Research and Innovation. His lab is also exploring the biological underpinnings of mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder, using advanced computing tools. One recent success, Ph.D. graduate Dr. Percy Agogo-Mawuli used these techniques to study a dopamine-related protein mutation and will continue his work with a postdoctoral fellowship at the Mayo Clinic.
Since joining UNTHSC in 2020, Siderovski has worked to position the institution at the forefront of AI-enabled biomedical research. That includes building interdisciplinary teams, investing in high-performance computing and lab technologies, and forming partnerships with companies like San Francisco-based Atomwise.
“At UNTHSC, we’re not just doing groundbreaking research—we’re leading the public conversation,” Siderovski said. “We’re committed to training the next generation of scientists in AI and pushing forward into areas of unmet medical need.”
With applications in addiction, mental health, and precision medicine, Siderovski says the possibilities are just beginning.
“We want to use AI to find new solutions faster than ever before.”
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