Small molecule high throughput screen using AstraZeneca facilities (Grant)

This funding opportunity provides academic researchers with unprecedented access to AstraZeneca's compound library of over two million molecules and state-of-the-art high-throughput screening (HTS) facilities. The Medical Research Council (MRC) will fund up to four projects per year to support discovery of potential starting points for small molecule medicinal drugs. Applicants must be based at an eligible UK research organisation and will work collaboratively with AstraZeneca under a pre-agreed collaboration agreement. The research organisation retains ownership of all generated intellectual property, while AstraZeneca has first right to negotiate for an exclusive licence. The current thematic focus is mental health or dementia including Parkinson's and Huntington's. Funding covers costs at AstraZeneca for HTS optimisation and execution (100% FEC), plus costs at the research organisation for follow-up assays, staff, travel and subsistence (80% FEC). Researchers are highly encouraged to embed themselves at AstraZeneca's Cambridge facilities for up to three months to support assay establishment and conducting the HTS.