Avinash Patel

Avinash Patel serves as Head of Exploratory Condensate Science and leads the team focused on new target discovery and validation at Dewpoint. Avi is passionate about exploring the unknown biology of condensates to develop drugs that target some of the most aggressive diseases of this era.

Most recently, Avi was involved in some key studies that established, for the first time, the connection between biomolecular condensates and human diseases, specifically neurodegeneration. During his post-doc in the lab of Tony Hyman, he discovered that the condensates of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) associated protein, FUS (Fused in Sarcoma), confer a risk for disease pathology. Another of his breakthrough discoveries was a novel chemistry for ATP, as a hydrotrope. At physiological concentrations, ATP can maintain protein solubility and modulate condensation of proteins. This function is independent of the widely known role of ATP as a cellular energy source.

Avi’s upbringing in India drives and inspires him to follow the concept of “Jugaad”—a flexible approach to problem-solving that uses limited resources in an innovative way. He enjoys experimenting with new ways of cooking, traveling, playing squash, gardening, and watching football.