Translational Research: Assay Development

The identification and testing of agents acting through a particular target that may modify a disease’s course typically require a set of reliable and reproducible assays to demonstrate the efficacy, selectivity, and potency of the potential therapeutic candidate. Such assays may be used to identify hits from high throughput screening campaigns, refine peptides by molecular panning, or assess in vivo properties of agents.

Starting Points

Disease
Biology
Unvalidated
Target

Target ID

Putative
Targets
Nominated
Target

Assay Development

Screenable
Assays
Target Assay

Screening

Hits and
Starting Points
Hit

Hit to Lead

Lead Series
Lead
Compound

Lead
Optimization

Potential
Therapeutic
Leads
Pre‑clinical
Candidate

Pre‑clinical
Development

Clinical
Therapeutic
Candidate
Clinical
Candidate

Clinical
Development

Clinical Proof
of Concept
Licensing and
Commercializa-
tion Partners

Market-ready
Therapeutics

Outcomes and Resources

NIDDK-Specific Funding Opportunities

PA-16-374, Assay Development and Screening to Discover Therapeutic or Imaging Agents for Diseases of Interest to the NIDDK (R01) has expired. The NIDDK is still interested in supporting this type of translational science and another potential option is to apply to the Parent R01 FOA (PA-20-185) and request review assignment to the special emphasis panel PAR Panel: High Throughput Screening- ZRG1 BST-F 55, or another relevant review panel. Applicants should consult the NIH/CSR study section descriptions before requesting a specific review panel.

Please reach out to one of the Staff Contacts listed below if you have any questions.

Related Resources

Staff Contacts

Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases
Dr. Anna Sadusky

Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition
Dr. Bonnie Burgess-Beusse

Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
Dr. Yan Li