Targets, Assays & Screening

This course focuses on the early stages of drug discovery and the identification of promising compounds with which to begin the hunt for a novel drug.  Different types of assays and methods are reviewed that are used to screen libraries of molecules in the preliminary search for compounds with activity.  Methods are discussed for validating that active molecules are indeed engaging a target associated with a predicted therapeutic benefit. Target audience: This course is suitable for life scientists, clinicians, and individuals from fields that support drug discovery (e.g., patents, finance, licensing, etc.) interested in learning more about the pharmaceutical/biotechnology sector. Advanced undergraduate coursework or practical familiarity/working knowledge in biological sciences and organic chemistry is recommended.

• Targets, Assays & Screening, part 1
• Welcome, by the end of the course students will be able to: Recognize the differences between target-based and phenotypic drug discovery. Differentiate between common library types and screening approaches for identifying small molecule hits. Describe some of the assay types used in early screening and factors to consider in their design.
• Targets, Assays & Screening, part 2
• Targets, Assays & Screening, part 3