WARF Launches New Programs for Promising Compounds (Sep 6, 2006)
In conjunction with the Keck-UW Comprehensive Cancer Center Small Molecule Screening Facility (SMSF), WARF is launching a new initiative for assay development and small molecule screening. The Lead Discovery Initiative addresses the development and application of high-throughput screening assays to the identification of small molecules that play a role in pathway modulation and have potential for future commercial development.
WARF is enthusiastic about the potential of this program, not only to enhance the value and scope of its current intellectual property, but also to bring additional researchers into the lead discovery process.
Carl Gulbrandsen, WARF's Managing Director said of the initiative: "We are committed to supporting UW researchers and the SMSF in their efforts to push their programs into new areas that could ultimately lead to important advances in human health." Michael Hoffmann, Professor of Oncology and Faculty Supervisor of the SMSF said: "The Lead Discovery Initiative will provide a much needed infusion of funding into early stage drug discovery on campus that will have long term benefits on translation of UW research from the lab to the clinic."
Researchers who have characterized putative regulatory elements or drug targets in any therapeutic indication are encouraged to apply. The program is also open to researchers who have already begun to conduct small molecule screens of putative drug targets through initial work at the SMSF, but lack the funds to develop structure activity relationships (SAR) for lead candidates.
In addition to developing assays and screening new targets, the SMSF can also assist researchers who have created new chemical entities and would like to assess these compounds in existing assays, including cytotoxicity. Assays that are currently available through the facility are listed on the Web at http://www.hts.wisc.edu/Resources/nonscreening_info.htm.
Work under the Lead Discovery Initiative will be carried out at the SMSF, with WARF funding administered directly to SMSF. The program is designed to assist in assay development, screening the existing compound library, and ultimately, obtaining expanded compound libraries from commercial sources to further develop SAR. Applications will be evaluated on a monthly basis by a core team comprising representatives from the School of Pharmacy, the SMSF and WARF.
All UW researchers are eligible to apply in conjunction with a principal investigator. Applicants must have submitted a WARF Invention Disclosure Report (IDR) prior to, or may do so at the same time as their LDI application. Additional details regarding the initiative can be found in the Request for Applications.
Questions about the two new initiatives should be directed to:
Laura M. Heisler, Ph.D.
Manager, WARF Strategic Technology Enhancement Program
608.261.1022
laura@warf.org.
For questions concerning the UW CCC SMSF or specific SMSF services, contact
Noel Peters, M.S.
Screen Facility Director
608.265.8687
noelpeters@wisc.edu.
