Assay Guidance Workshop for High-Throughput Screening and Lead Discovery

This full-day workshop will cover a broad range of critical concepts underlying assay development and implementation for high-throughput screening (HTS) 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.

Who Should Attend?

Individuals involved in bioassay development for drug discovery and development are encouraged to attend. The AGM ebook and this workshop will be a valuable resource for academic, industrial and government laboratory scientists who are planning or beginning to develop test methods for high or low throughput screening that are amenable to automation using appropriate statistical and operational concepts. The workshop will also be useful for early career researchers and experienced investigators who wish to learn about the latest assay concepts for HTS and lead optimization.

Course Benefits

Participants will learn the best practices for the development and implementation of robust assays and gain a broad, practical perspective on assay development and data analysis. Learn to 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. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to seek practical advice about individual research challenges.

Course Objectives

• Gain an overview of the Assay Guidance Manual e-book as an important resource for detailed information about robust assay methods and best practices in quantitative biology.
• Learn practical approaches for developing robust assays for small molecule discovery and validation including biochemical, biophysical, cell-based and high content screening assays.
• Identify and develop optimal assay reagents and assay instrumentation.
• Gain an overview of sources of assay artifacts and strategies to identify artifacts through the development and implementation of counter assays.

Course Instructors

Douglas Auld, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Nathan P. Coussens, Frederick National Laboratory for CancerResearch
Thomas D.Y. Chung, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Philip Iversen, Luther College
Timothy L. Foley, Pfizer
Sarine Markossian, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health
Mackenzie Pearson, Eli Lilly and Company
Terry Riss, Promega Corporation
Joe Trask, Revvity