QBI

QBI Quantitative Bioscience Institute (QBI) - QBI is the institute which transforms our understanding of biology and disease through quantitative research.

lnk.bio/qbi_ucsf The Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) fosters collaborations across the biomedical and the physical sciences, seeking quantitative methods to address pressing problems in biology and biomedicine. Motivated by problems of human disease, QBI is committed to investigating fundamental biological mechanisms, because ultimately solutions to many diseases will be revealed by new discoveries in the basic sciences.

We’re kicking off the QBI Science Art Club on September 22 with an inaugural Art Social inspired by the fascinating worl...
09/03/2026

We’re kicking off the QBI Science Art Club on September 22 with an inaugural Art Social inspired by the fascinating world of aquatic organisms. 🐠🪼🐙

Come spend an evening at UCSF Mission Bay creating art, exploring aquatic life, and connecting with scientists, artists, and curious creatives from across the community. No art or science experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and creativity.

We’ll provide the paints, canvas, snacks, and drinks. You bring the imagination. ✨

And the best part? Artwork created during the event will be exhibited at the Molecular Mechanisms of Aquatic Organisms Symposium on October 6!

Learn more details by clicking the link in our bio.

We know hundreds of genes can be linked to autism. But knowing which genes are involved is only part of the story.The bi...
08/27/2026

We know hundreds of genes can be linked to autism. But knowing which genes are involved is only part of the story.

The bigger question is: what happens inside the cell when those genes are altered?

Today in Science, researchers at UCSF’s Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences reveal the largest molecular map of autism to date—a highly collaborative effort involving more than 70 researchers.

By mapping more than 1,800 protein interactions across 100 autism risk genes, the team found that many different mutations converge on shared protein networks. They then traced the effects of 54 patient-derived mutations to see how they alter those networks.

The result is a detailed view of the molecular machinery affected by autism-associated mutations and a potential path toward therapies that target shared molecular mechanisms. More than a decade of collaborative work went into building this map!

Learn more about the study: link in bio.

Ever wondered what happens to your paper after you hit “submit”? 👀Join QBI on August 24 for a behind-the-scenes look at ...
08/20/2026

Ever wondered what happens to your paper after you hit “submit”? 👀

Join QBI on August 24 for a behind-the-scenes look at scientific publishing with Yuan Hu Allegretti, Scientific Editor at Cell Systems.

How do editors decide which papers go out for review? How are reviewers chosen? What happens when reviewers disagree? Should you contact your editor during a revision? And when is it worth appealing a decision?

Dr. Allegretti will unpack these questions and more, sharing practical tips for navigating the editorial and review process—as well as a look at how journal transfers work behind the scenes at Cell Press.
She’ll also share her experience as an editor, what she looks for in manuscripts, and advice for anyone interested in a career in scientific editing.

The seminar will be followed by an informal discussion and Q&A, so bring your questions!

More details & registration can be found at the link in our bio.

We welcome Brad Schneider to QBI as our new Chief Operating Officer! With more than two decades of experience in infecti...
08/11/2026

We welcome Brad Schneider to QBI as our new Chief Operating Officer!

With more than two decades of experience in infectious disease research, global health, biotechnology, and AI biosecurity, Brad brings a unique mix of scientific expertise and operational leadership to QBI.

As QBI continues to expand its scientific programs and translational efforts, Brad will help strengthen the systems and teams that support our research, collaborations, and continued growth.

Welcome to the team, Brad!

Read the full announcement: link in bio

Last week, we gathered for QBI’s annual Internship Symposium, where our summer researchers came together to share the wo...
08/10/2026

Last week, we gathered for QBI’s annual Internship Symposium, where our summer researchers came together to share the work they’ve been immersed in over the past few months.

From structural biology and protein engineering to AI, computational modeling, genomics, bioinformatics, and cancer biology, the breadth of research was a wonderful reflection of the curiosity and creativity of our interns and their mentors.

But the afternoon was about more than research. It was also a chance for our interns to step up and share their ideas, ask questions, practice communicating science, and connect with the mentors and peers who helped make their summer experience possible.

We’re proud of this year’s cohort and grateful to everyone across the QBI community who supported, mentored, and encouraged them along the way! ✨

📸 Revisit the event and explore more photos from the day: link in bio

On September 14, researchers from California and Germany will come together in Berlin for a joint QBI–Freie Universität ...
08/10/2026

On September 14, researchers from California and Germany will come together in Berlin for a joint QBI–Freie Universität Berlin Freie Universität Berlin symposium exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on autism.

The program will span clinical science, pharmacology, brain development, structural biology, systems biology, and the effects of viral infection on the brain.

The symposium is part of a QBI–FUB partnership that has grown steadily since the two institutions first came together for a joint symposium in Berlin in 2019. What began as a scientific exchange has since developed into a broader collaboration spanning research, training, and scientific exchange across Berlin and San Francisco.

Now, the partnership returns to Berlin for its next chapter, bringing researchers together again to exchange ideas, share discoveries, and advance the scientific collaborations already underway.

📍 Freie Universität Berlin
📅 September 14, 2026

If you’ll be in Berlin this September, we’d love to see you there!

Learn more and register: link in bio.

The 2026 QBI Hackathon was our biggest one yet, bringing together a record-breaking 19 teams for a high-energy sprint at...
07/24/2026

The 2026 QBI Hackathon was our biggest one yet, bringing together a record-breaking 19 teams for a high-energy sprint at the intersection of biology, computation, and medicine!

Our core goal? Bringing groups together, uniting the Bay Area developer community with researchers from UC San Francisco (UCSF), UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz to collaborate across disciplines, share ideas, and build new connections. ✨

Congrats to our 4 top winning teams:
    •    🥇 1st Place: EvoEmu
    •    🥈 2nd Place: HiveBlot
    •    🥈 2nd Place: AGeneTic
    •    🥉 3rd Place: NeuroZip

We are proud of all the participating cohorts! Head over to the link in our bio (or visit qbi.ucsf.edu/hackathon2026) to dive into individual project overviews, explore their codebases, and view the full event recap page.

Join us on July 31 at UCSF Mission Bay for a seminar with Ron Shamir, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Bioinfo...
07/22/2026

Join us on July 31 at UCSF Mission Bay for a seminar with Ron Shamir, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Bioinformatics at Tel Aviv University’s Blavatnik School of Computer Science.

Dr. Shamir will share recent work from his group exploring how artificial intelligence can help address pressing challenges in human health.

The seminar will feature research aimed at improving Parkinson’s disease assessment and introduce PRANA, a deep-learning framework designed to enhance genetic risk prediction across diverse populations.

Dr. Shamir is also a long-time collaborator of QBI and will discuss future plans for our joint QBI/UCSF–Tel Aviv University initiative in computational biology, drug discovery, and AI, building on the longstanding collaboration between the two institutions.

We hope to see you there. Learn more and register by clicking the link in our bio!

A new study in Molecular Cell reveals how one of the cell’s key “growth switches” turns on.The protein PI3Kα controls wh...
06/26/2026

A new study in Molecular Cell reveals how one of the cell’s key “growth switches” turns on.

The protein PI3Kα controls when cells grow and survive, but in cancer it can become overactive.

Led by Hayarpi Torosyan, with senior authors Natalia Jura and Kliment Verba (), researchers captured 6 structural snapshots showing how PI3Kα moves from inactive to fully on at the cell membrane.
The surprise? It doesn’t just flip on — it goes through a step-by-step activation process driven by cellular signals and membrane lipids.

They also found a new way the protein boosts signaling by pairing up, and showed how a common cancer mutation makes activation easier.

A closer look at how cells control growth and how that control can break in cancer.

Learn more: link in bio

Proteins aren’t static structures, they’re dynamic systems constantly shifting between functional states.Join us for a s...
06/25/2026

Proteins aren’t static structures, they’re dynamic systems constantly shifting between functional states.

Join us for a seminar with Prof. Patrick Barth (EPFL) on July 1!

During his talk he will explore how protein motion underlies biological function, and how combining molecular simulation, deep learning, and protein design is opening new ways to understand and engineer these systems—from fundamental signaling mechanisms to programmable biosensors and therapeutic applications.

Learn more & register (link in bio).

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