Medicinal chemistry and Drug Metabolism/Pharmacokinetics partners to support lead discovery for infectious tropical diseases

Background
TDR is supporting innovative research on neglected disease through focused and time-limited activities. The Lead Discovery Business line of TDR (LDR) aims to facilitate the discovery of new drug leads for infectious tropical diseases through North- South networks and partnerships between public and private sectors as well as academic institutions. Through the TDRs screening activities, several confirmed hits and lead compounds have become available for further SAR exploration and progression for several TDR target diseases including schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, filariasis, African sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, malaria and tuberculosis.

We are now seeking partners with expertise in medicinal chemistry, and DMPK to take on the optimization of available molecules evaluated through the TDR screening network. We strongly encourage applications from developing countries as we hope that work on these molecules will contribute to development of innovation in developing countries and contribute to the implementation of emerging regional innovation networks exemplified by the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) and ongoing discussions for Asian and South American Networks.

Project description

• Academic and research institutions, biotech and pharmaceutical companies possessing processes and capabilities in medicinal chemistry, drug metabolism and/or pharmacokinetics are encouraged to apply. Collaboration objectives are to:
• Support development of molecules through different research stage (Hit to Lead and Lead optimization)
• Work as part of the TDR drug discovery network and reporting of SAR data (chemical or biological information) to the TDR database
• Collaborate with the existing North South screening or DMPK networks of TDR for biological testing of compounds
• Participate in the development of project objectives, timelines, as well as implementation of action points identified by the TDR drug discovery committee.
• Participate in the identification of downstream partners for further compound progression and development, for example, transfer of project to the regional networks including local public private partnerships.
• Support training of fellows from disease endemic countries as an integral part of the project.

Candidate Selection
Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: experience and track record and experience of Principal Investigator (PI) and institution in synthetic or medicinal chemistry and DMPK, availability of basic infrastructure for synthetic/medicinal chemistry and DMPK, access to primary in vitro screens, and ability to guide post-doctoral chemists in the synthesis of analogues to explore SAR for optimization of anti-parasitic activity of compounds. Applicants are asked to develop a detailed implementation proposal covering technical and capacity building elements, budget and timelines.
Deadline

The deadline for proposals is March 31st 2010. Selected applicants will be contacted after the reviewing process.

How to apply
Please contact Ms Socorro Alias with any queries. The TDR Collaborative Research Grant form template should be used for all proposals.
Download the form here

On completion please submit electronically to aliass@who.int before the above deadline. Any additional documents may be submitted as appendices to this form (e.g. CVs of PI and research team, institutional letter of support).