Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Dr. Francesco Zonta has a background in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, specializing in Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. He completed his Ph.D. in Physics at Padua University, where he studied the connection between statistical and topological properties of polymers. During his doctoral work, his research interests shifted towards simulating biological macromolecules, particularly DNA and proteins. After completing his Ph.D., he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) in Padua. There, he developed a computational model using Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Dynamics simulations to study gap-junction hemichannels. He then moved to the Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies (SIAIS) at ShanghaiTech University as a Research Associate Professor. At SIAIS, he directed the Informatics and Computation Platform and later became a Co-PI in the Laboratory of Computational Biology. In 2023, Dr. Francesco Zonta joined Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. His current research focuses on developing artificial intelligence methods for drug design, especially for antibodies, and for precision medicine (single point mutations). He also works on multiscale simulations of biological systems and the development of machine learning (AI) force fields.
Research interests
AI driven drug design.
Precision medicine.
Single point mutations.
Therapeutic antibodies.
Multiscale models in biology.
Connexin hemichannels.
Machine Learning force fields.
Experience
2023 - Associate Professor, XJTLU, Department of Biolosciences and Bioinformatics, School of Science
2015-2023 - Research Associate Professor, ShanghaiTech University, SIAIS
Director of the Bioinformatic and Computational Biology Platform
Co-PI of the Laboratory of Computational Biology
2011-2015 - Young Researcher, Padova University, Department of Physics and Astronomy
2007 - 2011 - Post Doc, Venetian Institute for Molecular Medicine
Teaching
2024/25 BIO110 Physics for Life Sciences
2024/25 BIO311 Modeling for Computational Biology
2024/25 BIO405 Research Methods in Bioinformatics
2023/24 BIO311 Modeling for Computational Biology
2023/24 SCI002 Scientific Principles and Methods
2022/23 APH408 Computer-assisted Drug Development
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Ph.D. in Physics, Padova University, 2007
MSc in Physics, Padova University, 2003
External positions
Adjunct Lecturer, Taylor's University Malaysia
1 Jan 2024 → 31 Dec 2025
Research areas
- AI driven drug discovery
- Precision Health
- Single point mutations
- AI for Antibody design
- AI for protein Design
- Multiscale Simulations
- Connexin hemichannel
Keywords
- RS Pharmacy and materia medica
- AI driven drug discovery
- Precision Medicine
- QC Physics
- Statistical mechanics
- Biophysics
Person Types
- Staff
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Development of computational methods for the design of novel therapeutic antibodies
Zonta, F. (PI)
1/01/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Internal Research Project
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FYP: Moolecular Dynamics Exploration of HmAb1 Antibody Binding with Cx43 Hemichannels
Zonta, F. (PI)
1/10/23 → 30/06/24
Project: Other
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FYP: Umbrella Sampling for Binding Free Energies Prediction in Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Zonta, F. (PI)
1/10/23 → 30/06/24
Project: Other
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Assessing Computational Strategies for the Evaluation of Antibody Binding Affinities
Autiero, I., Buratto, D., Guo, F., Wang, W., Biswal, M. R., Chan, K. C., Zhou, R. & Zonta, F., 2025, In: Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Connexin hemichannel blockade by abEC1.1 disrupts glioblastoma progression, suppresses invasiveness, and reduces hyperexcitability in preclinical models
Donati, V., Pietro, C. D., Persano, L., Rampazzo, E., Panarelli, M., Cambria, C., Selimi, A., Manfredi, L., de Oliveira do Rêgo, A. G., La Sala, G., Sprega, C., Calistri, A., Ciubotaru, C., Yang, G., Antonucci, F., Zonta, F., Marazziti, D. & Mammano, F., 2 Sept 2025, In: Cell Communication and Signaling. 23, 391Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Connexin hemichannel blockade by abEC1.1 disrupts glioblastoma progression, suppresses invasiveness, and reduces hyperexcitability in preclinical models
Donati, V., Di Pietro, C., Persano, L., Rampazzo, E., Panarelli, M., Cambria, C., Selimi, A., Manfreda, L., de Oliveira do Rêgo, A. G., La Sala, G., Sprega, C., Calistri, A., Ciubotaru, C. D., Yang, G., Zonta, F., Antonucci, F., Marazziti, D. & Mammano, F., Dec 2025, In: Cell Communication and Signaling. 23, 1, 391.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Enhanced cellular and transdermal delivery of the modified chromatin using gH625 cellpenetrating peptide
Park, J. H., Zonta, F., Zhang, X. & Liang, Y., 2025, In: Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine. 71, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2025.102884.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Enhanced cellular and transdermal delivery of the modified chromatin using gH625 cell-penetrating peptide
Park, J. H., Zonta, F., Zhang, X. & Liang, Y., 13 Sept 2025, In: bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.11.675732Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
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A Beautiful Life in ScienceMaster Talk by Nobel Laureate Prof. Michael Levitt
Francesco Zonta (Organiser)
8 Oct 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
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Computational Analysis of mRNA Stability and Modifications: Melting Simulations and Free Energy Perturbation Studies
Francesco Zonta (Supervisor)
Jul 2025 → Aug 2025Activity: Supervision › Completed SURF Project
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Computational methods for antibodies and peptides design
Francesco Zonta (Supervisor)
Jun 2025 → Aug 2025Activity: Supervision › Completed SURF Project
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ADVANCING PEPTIDE SIMULATIONS WITH A NEURAL NETWORK ENERGY FUNCTION
Francesco Zonta (Speaker)
24 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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School of Science (Organisational unit)
Zonta, F. (Chair)
Feb 2025 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of committee