Practical Aspects of Small Molecule Drug Discovery: At the interface of biology, chemistry and pharmacology

4-9 July 2010

Deadline for applications: 26 March 2010
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus , Hinxton, Cambridge

Programme

A growing number of investigators in leading research institutions and small and medium-sized companies are expanding from their strength in disease biology into early-stage drug discovery. However, this move requires successfully combining the disciplines of biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics and pharmacology, the breadth of which can present organisational, knowledge and competence challenges for institutions and investigators. This residential course aims to give researchers of any discipline a broad introduction into the theoretical, practical and organisational aspects of small molecule drug discovery. Each topic will include a lecture together with discussion sessions or case histories to develop key aspects highlighted in the lectures. In addition there will be practical sessions to illustrate the beginnings of drug discovery programmes, including the production of project plans and milestones, compound progression criteria and scientific strategy based on screening results.

Topics will include:

project management and organisation of multi-disciplinary projects
target product profiles
target validation
Hit discovery options
screening set curation, storage and quality control
screening cascades, assay development and quality control
principles of compound optimisation
in silico approaches to drug design, screening and ADMET
intellectual property strategy
professional and funding body fundraising and project exit strategies
an introduction to preclinical and clinical development.

Course organisers

Professor Paul Wyatt (Drug Discovery Unit, University of Dundee, UK)
Dr Richard Davis (Technology Transfer Division, The Wellcome Trust)

Guest lecturers

A prestigious panel of guest lecturers from industry, academia and established not-for-profit organisations will be assembled for the course. Guest lecturers in previous years have included senior representatives from:

Pfizer
GlaxoSmithKline
Merck, Sharp & Dohme
AstraZeneca
Medical Research Council
University of Dundee
Cancer Research UK
BioFocus DPI
Tukan Partners Ltd
Organon Laboratories Ltd
Lectus Therapeutics Ltd
Astex Therapeutics Ltd
Melior Discovery
GF Associates

How to apply

Prerequisites

Applicants will likely be:

new postdoctoral recruits to already established facilities
postdoctoral grade researchers in small or medium sized companies
senior investigators considering entering the field
recipients, and their staff, of Seeding Drug Discovery project funding
established investigators seeking further professional development.

Cost
The course tuition fees are subsidised by the Wellcome Trust for scientists based anywhere in the world. This is a residential course, without exception, and there is a registration fee of £650 towards board and lodging.

Bursaries
Limited bursaries are available for academic or clinical applicants from non-commercial organisations (50 per cent of fee) and are subject to open competition. Please see our bursaries page for application information and terms and conditions.

Applications
Applicants will be required to complete an application form containing a 300-word outline of the relevance of the course to their research/clinical work. Please note that documentation supporting their application will be required from the applicant's supervisor/head of department.

To submit an application, please either email for an application form to advancedcourses@hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk or download the form [Word 116KB] and our terms and conditions [Word 28KB].

Applications can be accepted by post or email. Sponsors' supporting letters must be returned, signed, by fax or post under separate cover. Please note: Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Applications and letters of support should be sent to:

Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus
Hinxton
Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA
UK

F +44 (0) 1223 495130
E advancedcourses@hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk

Deadlines
Deadline for applications: 26 March 2010