Academic Drug Discovery Special Interest Group (SIG)

The Academic Drug Discovery Special Interest Group is a forum for academic drug discovery scientists to discuss the particular challenges associated with advancing drug discovery projects in an academic setting. While the annual meeting typically includes one or more invited speakers, this SIG includes significant time for open discussion among participants to share learnings and discuss strategies and best practices. The SIG has the goal of facilitating contacts and building collaborations. This year's theme is "Go Big or Go Home: The future of consortia in academic drug discovery." The NIH's recent AViDD RFA has led to the formation of many multi-institutional and even international collaborations between academic drug discovery centers and – as mandated in the RFA – industrial drug discovery. Will this increase our effectiveness? Should this be the NIH's model moving forward for other disease areas as well or would a national focus on academic drug discovery be more adequate? What other types of academic consortia/alliances could increase our success? What will the role of new technology that is typically generated in academic setting be?