Dr. Rafaël Najmanovich

Biography

Rafaël Najmanovich is a full professor at the University of Montreal, particularly focused on Health Sciences and Medical Sciences. His research primarily delves into biochemical and cellular processes that involve interactions among proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. His investigations are centered on molecular interactions governed by entropic effects and molecular forces, which can be collectively referred to as molecular recognition. He has studied the structure-function relationship in binding sites for various protein families, observing that non-homologous proteins can evolve different binding sites despite converging on specificity for the same ligand. Najmanovich believes that understanding binding promiscuity is critical to discerning and predicting protein function evolution, especially in a medical context where unwanted drug-protein interactions can have adverse effects. His work integrates structural studies and systems biology to address these issues, contributing to the rational design of new medications, particularly focusing on human sulfotransferase proteins involved in hormone regulation and drug metabolism.

Research Interests

Experience