In the wave of AI pharma, the longest distance may be this: “AI computes a perfect high-scoring sequence on a computer, yet it simply won’t express in the wet lab—or it has no activity.”

To help these computational “golden ideas” truly land, the 2026 NK2R AI Protein Design Challenge—jointly initiated by Tsinghua University’s Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure and other leading institutions—is now accepting submissions. With less than a month left until the November 11 deadline for registration and sequence submission, time is running short.

When AI Design Meets Real Activity Validation

As the core author and driver of this challenge, Tsinghua University’s Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure has long been dedicated to exploring and translating frontier biological structures.

The challenge task is highly practical: participants must use generative AI, structure prediction, molecular simulation, and other methods to design nanobody sequences that can directly activate NK2R without a natural ligand. There are no restrictions on AI models or binding sites—only the final experimental results count. Participants only need to submit 3 candidate sequences.

For participants, what makes this competition most attractive is not just the ¥84,000 total prize pool, but the promise: “You design it; we'll make it.”

In this relay from “computation” to “wet lab,” GentleGen, as a Platinum Sponsor, provides strong underlying support for the challenge’s validation.

Why Does AI Design Need a “Dry–Wet Closed Loop”?

Leading institutions such as Tsinghua University’s Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure are organizing such challenges precisely to break the industry pain point of “high algorithm scores, low experimental performance.”

AI can generate thousands of candidate molecules in a week, but multiple publications point out that the true wet-lab binding hit rate of de novo AI-designed antibodies is often only 1%–5%. Problems such as low expression, protein aggregation, and poor thermal stability often only surface after entering the experimental stage. Therefore, candidate sequences entering experimental validation must undergo rigorous testing under a unified experimental system and evaluation criteria.

This is exactly where GentleGen excels.

As the Platinum Sponsor of this challenge, GentleGen has built a one-stop, high-throughput technology platform covering gene design, synthesis, validation, protein expression, and affinity characterization, based on its self-developed GentSyn-Exp3.0-G-Lab fully automated production line. We know well that what AI fears most is “invalid feedback” caused by experimental failure.

Therefore, GentleGen ensures the reliability of every experiment through high-standard automation:

• High success rate: First-time synthesis success rate up to 99%, with sequence accuracy of 99.9%, ensuring that every feedback signal received by the AI agent is real.

• High-throughput rapid validation: Our high-throughput expression and detection platform can deliver antibody supernatant in as fast as 10 days—quickly handling the large number of candidate molecules generated by the challenge, so good designs are not dragged down by lengthy wet-lab cycles.

For more details on relevant services, please email: marketing@gentlegen.com.

Truly Moving from Computation to Experiment

As the challenge states: “More importantly, every candidate molecule that enters experimental validation will receive a genuine opportunity to move from computational design to the wet lab.”

GentleGen is honored to serve as a Platinum Sponsor and to stand alongside leading institutions—Tsinghua University’s Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Changping Laboratory, Beijing Institute of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing—to build this “dry–wet closed loop” bridge for researchers and jointly advance the real-world translation of AI in the life sciences.

• Registration and submission period: September 24, 2026 – November 11, 2026, 24:00 (UTC+8)
• Results announced: April 2027
• Total prize pool: ¥84,000

With less than a month until the registration deadline, if you have a clever idea for activating NK2R, submit your nanobody sequences now. Let your AI designs truly come alive on GentleGen’s automated wet-lab platform!