Nobel Laureate David Baker, a co-founder of Xaira Therapeutics, is a professor of biochemistry HHMI investigator, and the director of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The Baker Lab develops protein design software and uses it to create molecules that solve challenges in medicine, technology, and sustainability. Among his recent work is the development of powerful machine-learning methods for generating functional proteins. David is also an adjunct professor of genome sciences, bioengineering, chemical engineering, computer science, and physics at the University of Washington. He has published over 640 research papers, co-founded 21 companies, and been awarded more than 100 patents. Ninety of his mentees have gone on to independent faculty positions. David is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and a recipient of numerous awards, including the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. TIME named him among the world’s 100 Most Influential People in health.