Desert Scientific Software Pty Ltd

DesertSci: Streamlining discovery, accelerating breakthroughs

In today’s competitive BioTech landscape, cumbersome workflows and managing data from disparate sources can cause delays in discovery. Research teams need intelligent systems that integrate seamlessly, automate processes and scale efficiently to enhance real-world outcomes.
Enter DesertSci, the Australian company redefining how scientists work with complex structural data in cheminformatics and bioinformatics. Founded by Dr Neil Taylor, an industry veteran with more than 25 years of hands-on experience in computational chemistry and molecular modelling, DesertSci has created a platform purpose-built to eliminate common research bottlenecks to enhance the discovery process.
DesertSci caters to the unique needs of the biotech industry with a customisable platform that handles protein structure data with cutting-edge accuracy. Teams can flexibly integrate the tools they need to enhance workflows, enabling them to find therapeutic solutions that better the lives of people faster, safer, and smarter.
The company’s suite of tools — including the flagship Proasis protein structure database, and its powerful counterparts Scorpion and Viper — helps organisations reduce operational friction and save costs by accelerating discovery timelines.

Real-world software for real-world science

At the heart of DesertSci’s offering is Proasis — a modular, integrative system that brings together experimental structural data and advanced modelling capabilities in one user-friendly environment. Proasis isn’t just a database - it’s a full-featured discovery environment that streamlines structure-based drug design, enhances predictive accuracy, and enables teams to work faster with higher confidence.
Designed for plug-and-play flexibility, research groups can deploy Proasis as a standalone solution or integrate it directly into existing workflows, enabling enhanced capability without the need for expensive infrastructure. From managing protein–ligand interaction data to visualising binding sites and evaluating SAR trends, Proasis has become a trusted tool in environments where speed, precision, and compliance are all non-negotiable.

Power tools for molecular precision

DesertSci’s broader software ecosystem includes:

• Scorpion: A versatile affinity prediction module that enables researchers to identify binding site hotspots and rapidly search for compounds matching those criteria - a key asset in ligand-based drug design.
   
• Viper: A sophisticated fragment based ligand design tool that allows researchers to design new compounds, assess ligand binding poses, and pinpoint opportunities for optimisation - critical for refining lead compounds and identifying novel mechanisms of action.

Together, these tools form a powerful suite capable of handling diverse data types, complex structural comparisons, and rapid design cycles, enabling teams to move from data to discovery with unparalleled efficiency.

Designed for scientists, by scientists

Unlike generic software providers, DesertSci builds tools from the ground up in collaboration with working scientists. Every module is grounded in real-world use cases and refined through continuous global feedback. This is science-first software, created by people who understand the challenges of modern R&D - from data fragmentation and reproducibility, to secure collaboration and regulatory compliance.
“We’re not interested in buzzwords,” says Dr Neil Taylor. “We build software that works - software that’s fast, accurate, and flexible enough to keep pace with the evolving needs of drug discovery.”
That philosophy has earned DesertSci its reputation for technical excellence and scientific rigour - with a proven track record of delivering value across big pharma, biotech startups, and adjacent industries like agtech and environmental science.
 

Better science, delivered faster

As DesertSci prepares to attend Bio-Asia Taiwan 2025, the team looks forward to engaging with global research leaders and demonstrating how its modular software suite supports faster, safer, more cost-effective outcomes across the life sciences.
Whether you’re a structural biologist, a medicinal chemist, or a research leader seeking smarter infrastructure, DesertSci’s platform offers agility, reliability, and depth - helping bring more meaningful innovations to market, for the benefit of people, populations, and the planet.
Learn more at desertsci.com or follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/desert-scientific-software/