Early Development Strategies for Neutralizing Antibodies and Brain Permeable Small Molecules

Catalog description

This course will provide students with an overview of current technologies related to the development of small molecules and neutralizing antibodies. Delivered via classroom instruction and a workshop, these modules will aim to increase the fundamental understanding of drug development terminology and processes, combined with real-world examples of discovery therapeutics and technologies developed for translation to clinic. Emphasis will be made on the development of small molecules that can cross the blood-brain barrier and show potential for translation in clinic. Focus will also be put on the screening of antibody targets followed by target validation, target profile development and preclinical evaluation. The workshop will focus on computational molecular docking which is an excellent tool that will help reduce the attrition rate during the drug development process and lead identification studies. Active engagement of the students during the workshop is expected based on the need to install specific software and completion of assigned tasks (computational docking). Students are expected to bring personal laptops to class on day 1 and 2 to perform docking exercises.