Jess Translating Science

Highlighting and translating science for diverse audiences

Predicting protein structures and embracing queerness

Today, Roland Dunbrack is a renowned, out and proud scientist. He develops computational insights on proteins that will lead to better cancer therapy designs and is outspoken about LGBTQIA+ issues with those around him. But, like many queer scientists, his road to self-acceptance was a long one.

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photo of Roland Dunbrack, with a rainbow background, and images of a protein structure and a pride flag next to his headshot

Reading time: 5 minutes

Jessica Desamero, PhD

Today, Roland Dunbrack is a renowned, out and proud computational structural biologist. At Fox Chase Cancer Center, he builds and analyzes structural models to develop insights that will lead to better design of cancer therapies. As a queer advocate, he is outspoken about LGBTQIA+ issues on social media and with those around him. But, like many queer scientists, his road to self-acceptance was a long one.

Check out this image carousel to learn more about Dunbrack’s scientific and personal journeys:

Sources for this profile include Dr. Dunbrack himself, as well as the YouTube video of the talk he gave for the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB), titled “From Pink Triangles to Rainbow Flags: 35 years in Structural Bioinformatics – Roland Dunbrack – LGBTQ+ Symposium 2024”.

For more details on any of Dunbrack’s stories highlighted above, please look at the Jess Translating Science scientist version of this profile story, found here.

For more on Dunbrack’s scientific research journey, please look at the profile story I wrote for ASBMB’s member magazine, ASBMB Today, found here.

Images were all created by the author with Canva.

The headshot was provided by the interviewee.

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