Division of Advanced Innovation Research and Development
Introduction
In recent years, drug discovery modalities have significantly diversified. Today, they encompass not only small molecules but also nucleic acid therapeutics, gene and cell therapies, and AI-driven drug discovery. It is estimated that the chemical space for small molecules with a molecular weight of 500 or less contains approximately 1060 possibilities, highlighting a vast, untapped resource for drug discovery. To target this immense chemical space, we are utilizing one of the largest chemical libraries in Japanese academia to enhance the discovery of hit compounds through high-throughput chemical screening. Additionally, we conduct hit-to-lead research based on structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and pursue chemical biology research to clarify mechanisms of action and identify target molecules. By integrating chemistry and biology, we aim to cover a comprehensive range of activities, from basic research to the development of drug candidates, thereby contributing to anti-cancer drug discovery.
Research topics
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