Tools and techniques
Discover tools and techniques supporting modern drug discovery, including assays, biomarkers, sequencing, molecular modelling, analytical technologies and translational research methods that improve target validation, therapeutic development, data generation and scientific decision-making.
Tools and techniques
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Tools and techniques
ArticleHow protective gene variants are revealing new drug targets
Finding the right drug target remains one of discovery’s biggest challenges. Human genetics is helping researchers strengthen the evidence before committing years of research and investment.
ArticleWhy AI struggles with new drug targets – and how physics could help
Virtual screening can assess billions of compounds, but performance can fall on unfamiliar targets. Combining AI with molecular physics could help make predictions more reliable.
ArticleTurning CNS biomarkers into better drug development decisions
Why do promising CNS therapies struggle to translate into patients? Three experts explore how biomarkers can track therapeutic effects, improve patient selection and guide development decisions.
ArticleFast-tracking AI-designed binders with cell-free expression and SPR
AI can rapidly generate new protein binders, but wet-lab validation remains a major bottleneck. Combining cell-free protein synthesis with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) enables AI-designed antibody binders to be screened directly from crude extracts, bypassing lengthy cell culture and purification steps.
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ArticleSample collection: the overlooked key to genomic study success
As genomic studies become larger and more diverse, sample collection can make or break their success. Discover why collection strategy matters for recruitment, scale and data quality.
ArticleWhy more ribosomes can mean less protein in mRNA therapeutics
What happens when the cellular machinery making therapeutic proteins slows down? New research in Nature shows why translation speed could matter for the design of mRNA medicines.
ArticleWhat makes a human biospecimen fit for purpose in drug discovery
Human biospecimens can bring drug discovery closer to human disease, but their value depends on far more than the sample itself. We explore the factors that determine how much researchers can learn from them.
ArticleWhy depression needs a different drug discovery strategy
What if depression is not one disease, but many biologically distinct conditions? A major research programme is investigating what this could mean for biomarkers, drug targets and treatment.
ArticleSix assay requirements every researcher using NAMs should know
As NAMs become more widely used in drug discovery, assays must meet the demands of more complex models. Discover six requirements for reliable, reproducible and biologically meaningful data.
ArticlePROTACs vs molecular glues: which degrader fits your target?
PROTACs and molecular glues can both remove disease-associated proteins, but choosing between them is not simple. Our new Discovery Toolkit compares the options to help discovery teams choose the right strategy.
ReportBuilding biomarkers that drug developers can rely on
Discover how integrated technologies, multiomic approaches and AI are helping researchers translate complex biological signals into actionable tools for drug development and patient care.
ArticleHow rare genetic variants could uncover new drug targets
What if extreme levels of common traits have a different genetic basis? New research suggests rare, large-effect variants could help explain the extremes and identify potential drug targets.
ArticleHow AI-driven systems biology will reset the starting line for drug development
AI is making drug discovery faster, but can it make it more successful? Discover why combining AI with systems biology could help researchers tackle the biological complexity behind drug failure.
Article600+ patient-derived cancer models expand the search for drug targets
Hundreds of new patient-derived cancer models could strengthen target validation, identify cancer vulnerabilities and provide more representative systems for preclinical drug discovery.
ArticleWhy researchers are revisiting bisantrene decades after it was abandoned
An oncology drug abandoned decades ago is getting a second look, with new research uncovering a mechanism that could offer an alternative route to targeting MYC, one of cancer’s toughest targets.
ArticleWhy intracellular targets remain a major drug discovery challenge – and how they’re becoming druggable
Many biologically important intracellular targets remain difficult to drug. Dr Rab Prinjha examines how screening within living cells could help tackle them.
ArticleFibroblast barrier linked to immunotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer
Why do some colorectal cancers resist immunotherapy? Analysis of patient tumour samples has identified a population of fibroblasts that could help explain treatment resistance.
ArticleReducing drug development failures with human-relevant models and AI
Professor Joseph C. Wu of Stanford University explains how stem cells, human-relevant models and AI are helping researchers predict which drug candidates are most likely to succeed before clinical trials.
ArticleWhy inherited retinal disease treatment requires more than gene therapy
Most inherited retinal diseases still have no approved therapy despite advances in gene therapy. This article explores why researchers are targeting shared disease mechanisms alongside individual mutations.
ArticleInside one of the most comprehensive human proteome atlases to date
Understanding where proteins are expressed throughout the body is critical for selecting better drug targets. Here’s how a new human proteome atlas could improve target selection, predict toxicity and support drug repurposing.