Rockefeller Professor: “technology drives a lot of what happens in life science”

In an interview with SciLifeLab, Professor Thomas Sakmar from The Rockefeller University shared his views on how technology drives progress in life sciences. Sakmar described SciLifeLab as a model for innovation and technological excellence. “Technology enables us to ask questions we previously thought were impossible to answer,” he said.

Professor Sakmar, M.D., leads the Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction at The Rockefeller University, where he previously served as acting president. His collaboration with SciLifeLab traces back to 2012 and his sabbatical at Karolinska Institutet, where he today is honorary doctor.

Inspired by his experiences in Stockholm, he returned to New York and began exploring multiplexing technologies in collaboration with SciLifeLab scientists, including Professor Jochen Schwenk. SciLifeLab’s facilities and expertise in antibody-based technologies, as well as the Human Protein Atlas resource, proved to be an excellent match for his team’s research needs.

In the interview, Sakmar emphasized the role of technology in life sciences, stating, “When people ask what drives the latest discoveries in life sciences, I often point to technology. It enables us to tackle questions previously deemed impossible, pushing the boundaries of what we consider achievable.” While individual initiative and creativity remain crucial, Sakmar noted that technological advancements often serve as the foundation for discoveries. He also praised SciLifeLab for its role in democratizing access to advanced technologies.

“SciLifeLab exemplifies the importance of shared facilities and core resources. Not every lab can afford the high-end instruments required for cutting-edge experiments, but institutions like SciLifeLab make these tools accessible, fostering collaboration and discovery” he remarked.

Sakmar’s collaboration with SciLifeLab has focused on a range of technologies, including the bead array instruments offered by the SciLifeLab Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit. This partnership enabled his team to validate receptor-protein complexes and pursue high-resolution structural analyses. Reflecting on the integrated approach enabled by SciLifeLab, Sakmar looked ahead, “With SciLifeLab, we could validate our findings using MolBoolean (developed by SciLifeLab researcher Professor Ola Söderberg), analyze complexes with mass spectrometry, and even aim for structural studies—an approach that deepens our understanding of complex biological systems.”