About PDB-101
PDB-101 is an online portal for exploring the world of proteins and nucleic acids. The diverse shapes and functions of biological macromolecules help explain all aspects of biomedicine and agriculture, from protein synthesis to health and disease to biological energy.
Our mission is to build and support the broad PDB user community with a wide range of resources for understanding 3D biostructures.
- Training materials, such as the Guide to Understanding PDB Data and webinars, are available to help graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and researchers use PDB data and RCSB PDB tools.
- Outreach content, including the Molecule of the Month series and molecular animations, demonstrate how PDB data can be used to understand fundamental biology, biomedicine, bioengineering/biotechnology, and energy sciences in 3D by a diverse and multidisciplinary user community.
- Education Materials, such as Curriculum Modules, provide lessons and activities for teaching and learning.
Why PDB-101? Researchers around the world are studying molecules at the atomic level. These 3D structures are freely available at the Protein Data Bank (PDB), the central storehouse of biomolecular structures. This website builds introductory materials to help users get started using PDB data and RCSB PDB tools for learning ("101", as in an entry-level course).
Since 2011, PDB-101 has been developed by RCSB PDB, a global resource for the advancement of research and education in biology and medicine. Along with our Worldwide PDB collaborators, RCSB PDB curates, annotates, and makes publicly available the PDB data deposited by scientists around the globe. The RCSB PDB then provides a window to these data through a rich online resource with powerful searching, reporting, and visualization tools for researchers at RCSB.org. This information is then streamlined into Training, Outreach, and Education resources and materials at PDB-101.
RCSB PDB Core Operations are funded by the National Science Foundation (DBI-1832184), the US Department of Energy (DE-SC0019749), and the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant R01GM133198.
RCSB PDB receives guidance from an Advisory Committee and the Training, Outreach, and Education Working Group.

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Cite PDB-101:
PDB-101: Educational resources supporting molecular explorations through biology and medicine. Christine Zardecki, Shuchismita Dutta, David S. Goodsell, Robert Lowe, Maria Voigt, Stephen K. Burley. (2022) Protein Science 31: 129-140 doi:10.1002/pro.4200
Awards and Recognitions
2023 |
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Finalist, EdTech Awards |
2022 |
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Shuchismita Dutta named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science |
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Molecule of the Month creator David S. Goodsell was honored with
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2021 |
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Wiki Science Competition 2021: Wikipedia
Finalist: United States and International
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Wiki Science Competition 2021: Wikipedia
Finalist: United States and International
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Winner (Other Life Science Images Category):
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2020 |
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2020 American Public Health Association Film Festival
Official selection:
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2019 |
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Wiki Science Competition 2019: Wikipedia
National finalist and International Runner-Up in Non-photographic media category:
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BioArt Awards: FASEB
Winner:
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2018 |
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BioArt Awards: FASEB
Winner:
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2017 |
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Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News 37: 30.
"Best of the Web".
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Vizzies Awards: National Science Foundation (NSF) and Popular Science
Winner:
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2016 |
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BioArt Awards: FASEB
Winner:
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Wellcome Image Awards: Wellcome Trust
Winner:
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Wellcome Image Awards: Wellcome Trust
Winner:
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2015 |
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BioArt Awards: FASEB
Winner:
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