Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 10th Annual
Lead-Generation Strategies
Modern Small Molecule Discovery, Design, and Optimization for Next-Generation Therapeutics
September 29 – October 1, 2026
Today’s small molecule drug discovery or design stems from a myriad of sources other than, or in addition to, the traditional high-throughput screening of physically present large chemical compound libraries. Not only are there are more types of libraries available—from physical to virtual chemical collections, covering a wider range of chemical space—but there are more tools to interrogate target and drug compound engagement upon which to make initial or subsequent rational drug design decisions or drug lead selection choices. Join us at Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Lead Generation Strategies to learn, via case studies from leading industry ‘drug hunters,’ when, where, and how to use various small molecule drug-finding or design approaches and even more importantly, how to capitalize on integrating the various options.
Who should attend: Biophysical Chemists, Computational Chemists, Structural Biologists, Medicinal Chemists, Discovery Chemists, Molecular Pharmacologists
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
- Biophysical Approaches: Advanced applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Mass-Spectrometry (MS), and Surface-Plasmon Resonance (SPR) for progress against difficult targets such as Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs) and G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
- GPCR-Targeted Discovery: Biophysical screening approaches or structure-based design for a complex target in the era of machine learning/AI and cryo-electron microscopy
- Library and Screening Innovations: DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) technology and applications, Fragment-Based Drug Discovery (FBDD), covalent libraries, virtual library screening, and Direct-to-Biology (D2B) tools
The deadline for priority consideration is March 13, 2026.
All proposals are subject to review by session chairpersons and/or the Scientific Advisory Committee to ensure the overall quality of the conference program. Additionally, as per Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s policy, a select number of vendors and consultants who provide products and services will be offered opportunities for podium presentation slots based on a variety of Corporate Sponsorships.
Opportunities for Participation: