Overview of drug discovery and development: traditional and evolving roles of academic institutions

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Despite tremendous progress in furthering our understanding in biology, chemistry, and related disciplines there has been less progress in translation of these advances in basic science to discovery of new therapeutic agents. There is a critical need to focus increased attention on more fully validating potential new drug targets and allow basic science discoveries to be most useful in supporting full drug discovery efforts in industry settings. For the biomedical research enterprise to be maximally effective in translating new basic science discoveries into breakthrough new therapeutic agents, it will be important for scientists in academic and other non profit settings to increase efforts to critically evaluate novel hypotheses related to new drug targets and provide data needed to a allows translation of advances in basic science to full drug discovery programs. This short presentation will provide an introduction to the symposium by outlining the drug discovery and development process and suggesting approaches by which academic scientists may contribute to determining “drugability” and potential validation of potential new drug targets. The following presentations will provide examples of early stage drug discovery efforts being pursued by academic scientists.