Practical Aspects of Small Molecule Drug Discovery

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 director
Professor Paul Wyatt (Drug Discovery Unit, University of Dundee, UK)
Guest lecturers
A prestigious panel of guest lecturers from industry, academia and established not-for-profit organisations will be assembled for the course. Last year's lecturers 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

Cost
The course tuition fees are subsidised by the Wellcome Trust for scientists based in academic institutions anywhere in the world. This is a residential course, without exception, and there is a registration fee of £770 towards board and lodging for academic applicants. The fee for commercial (non-academic) applicants is £1800.

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.

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

Bursaries for Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses
The Wellcome Trust subsidises all courses and workshops, so there are no tuition fees. The ‘course fee' for the UK courses (held at Hinxton) covers on-site accommodation and food for the duration of the course. Bursaries are available to assist with UK course fees, but not travel costs. We are committed to building scientific capacity in developing countries and are expanding the number of courses and workshops run outside of the UK (‘overseas' courses). There is no fee for these courses and bursaries are available for travel, sustenance and accommodation. Please see below for full details.

UK Courses (held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton)
A limited number of bursaries are available for each course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. The bursary usually covers 50 per cent of the course fee, though in exceptional circumstances an application for the total course fee may be considered. Where there are many bursary applications, the selection committee may issue smaller amounts. We cannot assist with travel costs. All bursary requests to attend UK courses must be accompanied by a bursary application form. This must be completed and signed by your scientific sponsor (supervisor or head of department) and include justification for the bursary. Applicants will be notified of a bursary award along with their place on the course, usually within one month of the application deadline. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Overseas courses (held outside the UK)
A number of bursaries are available for each overseas course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. There is no course fee.The bursary will cover travel, accommodation and sustenance. The maximum award for travel (in economy/second class) will be £750. All likely travel costs must be detailed in the overseas bursary application form, which must accompany all bursary requests for courses held outside of the UK. We will notify you of the chosen hotel and sustenance award if successful. The selection committee may judge that a partial award should be granted. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline.