About the Workshop

The NCATS Assay Guidance Manual (AGM) program and Eli Lilly and Company are co-hosting a two-day workshop that will cover a broad range of critical concepts underlying assay development and implementation for high-throughput screening and lead discovery projects. This workshop is designed to disseminate critical information about the implementation of robust assay methods and is particularly relevant for researchers developing molecular probes or clinical candidates. Many of the instructors have 20 to 30 years of experience in the field of drug discovery and will share information not readily found in a classroom or published material outside of the AGM. The workshop also will cover emerging technologies and modalities in drug discovery, including the use of DNA-encoded libraries and 3-D tissue models in drug discovery.

Goals and Objectives

This workshop will provide participants with a broad, practical perspective on assay development and data analysis so they can improve research projects involving drug discovery and know where to find further information; identify reagents, methods and instrumentation that are well suited to robust assays; and develop robust assays and the required counter and secondary assays for targets of interest. In addition, the workshop will provide participants with broad overviews and practical perspectives on new and emerging modalities in drug discovery.

Specific learning goals and objectives of this workshop include:

Gain an overview of the Assay Guidance Manual ebook as an important resource for detailed information about robust assay methods and best practices in quantitative biology.
Identify practical approaches for developing robust assays for biochemical and cell-based screening as well as the selection of optimal assay reagents and instrumentation.
Gain an overview on biophysical approaches to small molecule discovery and validation.
Discuss sources of assay artifacts and strategies to identify artifacts through the development and implementation of counter assays.
Interpret important statistical and data analysis concepts with an emphasis on using these concepts to collect the best possible data and make go/no go decisions based on experimental results.
Identify practical approaches for lead selection and optimization.
Gain overviews and practical perspectives on new and emerging modalities in drug discovery.
Share experiences and seek practical advice about individual research concerns.

Agenda

Download the agenda

About the Assay Guidance Manual Program

The AGM program is a world-class source of guidelines and best practices for advancing translational science and research in the preclinical development of novel therapeutics and offers training and insight for those desiring to become translational scientists. This program provides scientists with community-developed best laboratory practices in early translational research, including robust assay development, analytical technologies, data analysis tools and preclinical drug discovery standards. The program also aims to help the preclinical drug discovery workforce understand the value of robust, reproducible and replicable results.

The AGM program provides multiple resources, including the AGM eBook. This manual contains best practices in preclinical drug discovery and is free and publicly available from the National Library of Medicine; its editorial board has members from both the private and public sectors.

The program offers in-person and virtual multiday training workshops and conferences. It also hosts an AGM Preclinical Translational Science Webinar Series. This series highlights distinguished translational scientists who share case studies and information about preclinical translational science.

Workshop Organizing Committee

Kyle Brimacombe, NCATS

Abigail Grossman, NCATS

Stefan Grotegut, Loxo Oncology

Matthew D. Hall, NCATS

Sarine Markossian, NCATS

James E. McGee, Eli Lilly and Company

Allison Norvil, Eli Lilly and Company

Mackenzie Pearson, Eli Lilly and Company

Assay Guidance Workshop for High-Throughput Screening and Lead Discovery