Practical Aspects of Drug Discovery: At the Interface of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacology - Latin America & the Caribbean

In collaboration with the Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research (WCAIR), University of Dundee and the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, CNPEM, we are pleased to announce the Overseas course Practical Aspects of Drug Discovery: At the Interface of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacology. 

Increasingly scientists representing a variety of disciplines in leading research institutions, as well as small and medium-sized companies are leveraging their expertise to engage in early-stage drug discovery. Such drug discovery R&D requires the productive combination of multiple disciplines including biochemistry, medicinal and computational chemistry, natural products, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and project management, the breadth of which can present organisational, knowledge and competence challenges for institutions and investigators.

This interactive, lecture- and discussion-based course will give scientists of all disciplines a broad introduction to the theoretical, practical and organisational aspects of small molecule and natural product drug discovery. Each topic-based lecture mixes presentation with discussion sessions and case histories to develop the key aspects of critical disciplines and activities. Additional discussion-based sessions will build on the lectures to illustrate the strategic planning of drug discovery programmes, including the development of target product profiles, compound progression criteria, scientific strategy and the need to work collaboratively.  This course will focus on the need for drug discovery in Latin America and how these approaches can be applied in the regional context and environment.

Target audience

The course is open to applicants from institutes based in Latin America and the Caribbean. The programme is aimed at researchers with a PhD and background knowledge of any discipline related to drug discovery, including biology, chemistry, pharmacology, computational chemistry and informatics.

Representatives from research institutions who want to expand upon their expertise in disease biology into early stage drug discovery and have an interest in communicable and non-transmissible Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), TB, Malaria and HIV among other diseases, are encouraged to apply. Applicants with an interest in treatments for any disease would benefit.

The course is free to attend and limited bursaries are available to cover travel and accommodation costs.

The programme will include lectures and discussions covering the following topics:

• Project management and organisation of multi-disciplinary projects
• Target discovery and validation
• Hit discovery options
• Phenotypic screening and mode of action elucidation
• Screening set assessment
• Screening cascades, assay development and quality control
• Data mining
• Introduction to pharmacokinetics
• Principles of compound optimisation and case histories
• In silico approaches to drug design 
• Natural products – isolation, structure elucidation and optimisation
• Data packages required for out licensing and partnering
• An introduction to preclinical and clinical development

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Describe the process of small molecule and natural product drug discovery
• Define the basic principles of medicinal chemistry, target assessment and validation, and DMPK with reference to drug discovery
• Discuss the positives and negatives of different approaches to drug discovery
• Describe the importance of data management and computational modelling in drug discovery
• Describe the clinical and non-clinical stages of the drug discovery process

Prerequisites

Applicants should be based in institutes in Latin America and the Caribbean with an academic or commercial background in relevant fields, such us:

• Postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers at established institutes and in small or medium sized companies
• Senior investigators considering entering the field
• Established investigators seeking further professional development

Instructors & Speakers

Jeremy Burrows
MMV, Geneva, Switzerland

Cedric Graebin
WCAIR, University of Dundee, UK

David Gray 
WCAIR, University of Dundee, UK

Daniela Trivella 
LNBio, CNPEM, Brazil

Lauren Webster
WCAIR, University of Dundee, UK

Luíza Cruz
Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Brazil

Miller Freitas
Nintx - Next Innovative Therapeutics, Brazil

Marjorie Bruder
LNBio, CNPEM, Brazil

Organisers

Karon Chappell
Wellcome Connecting Science - UK

Suze Farrel
WCAIR, University of Dundee, UK

Isabela Malta
Wellcome Connecting Science - UK

Alice Matimba
Wellcome Connecting Science - UK

Target Audience

The course is open to applicants from institutes based in Latin America and the Caribbean. The programme is aimed at researchers with a PhD and background knowledge of any discipline related to drug discovery, including biology, chemistry, pharmacology, computational chemistry and informatics.

Representatives from research institutions who want to expand upon their expertise in disease biology into early stage drug discovery and have an interest in communicable and non-transmissible Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), TB, Malaria and HIV among other diseases, are encouraged to apply. Applicants with an interest in treatments for any disease would benefit.

How to Apply
Please click the Apply button above to begin the online application process. Places are limited and will be awarded on merit. If you have any problems with the online application process, please contact us.

Please note: Applications must be supported by a recommendation from a scientific or clinical sponsor (e.g. supervisor, line manager or head of department). A request for a supporting statement will be sent to your nominated sponsor automatically during the application process. Applicants must ensure that their sponsor provides this supporting statement by the application deadline. Applications without a supporting statement cannot be considered.

Accommodation services phishing scam – please be vigilant. More information

The course is subsidised by Wellcome Connecting Science, and is free to attend.

Bursaries
A number of bursaries are available for each course. These are awarded on merit to cover travel, accommodation and sustenance.

Bursaries can be applied for as part of the course application form. Applicants will be notified of a bursary award along with their place on the course, usually within one month of the application deadline. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Please note that both the applicant and sponsor are required to provide a justification for the bursary as part of the application.

Video of 2022 Montevideo course: https://twitter.com/IPMontevideo/status/1594786605088313346?s=20

“Having the course in-person allowed the much-needed face-to-face interactions of the Latin American drug discovery community. Considering the lack of a structured network of collaborations, drug hunters in the region often seek partners in the global north, assuming that we do not possess the technical skills to conduct this type of research within our continent. Meeting other fellow, Latin American scientists and interacting with local peers was paramount to showcase the scientific capacities of the region and to bring potential collaborators into the same room. The hands-on workshops were crucial to the capacity and team building exercises and doing this in-person allowed a more personalized exchange with the team of instructors and created a networking environment that would be difficult to achieve in a virtual setting.”

Dr. Luíza Cruz, DNDi Brazil – Participant in the 2022 course.