Contributions of Academic Labs to the Discovery and Development of Chemical Biology Tools

• Published in: Journal of medicinal chemistry Vol. 56; no. 18; pp. 7161 - 7176
• Main Authors: Huryn, Donna M., Resnick, Lynn O., Wipf, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 31.05.2013
• ISSN: 0022-2623; 1520-4804
• DOI: 10.1021/jm400132d

The academic setting provides an environment that may foster success in the discovery of certain types of small molecule tools, while proving less suitable in others. For example, small molecule probes for poorly understood systems, those that exploit a specific resident expertise, and those whose commercial return is not apparent are ideally suited to be pursued in a university setting. In this perspective, we highlight five projects that emanated from academic research groups and generated valuable tool compounds that have been used to interrogate biological phenomena: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensors, GPR30 agonists and antagonists, selective CB2 agonists, Hsp70 modulators and beta-amyloid PET imaging agents. By continuing to take advantage of the unique expertise resident in university settings, and the ability to pursue novel projects that may have great scientific value, but limited or no immediate commercial value, probes from academic research groups continue to provide useful tools and generate a long-term resource for biomedical researchers.