Small molecule high throughput screen using AstraZeneca facilities

The Small molecule high throughput screen using AstraZeneca facilities is a funding opportunity providing academic researchers access to AstraZeneca’s compound library and high-throughput screening (HTS) facilities to identify starting points for small-molecule drug discovery. The Medical Research Council (MRC) through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will support up to four projects per year and provide funding to cover screening, assay optimisation and related costs. Projects receive technical input from AstraZeneca and may screen between 100,000 and 1,000,000 compounds depending on optimisation results. Award durations are typically 12–18 months (commonly 15 months).

Access to AstraZeneca’s compound library (>2 million molecules), use of AstraZeneca high-throughput screening facilities and robots, technical input and assay optimisation support from AstraZeneca, funding for screening and associated costs, travel and accommodation for hosted researchers.

Open to organisations meeting UKRI standard eligibility; applicants must demonstrate they will direct the project and be actively engaged in the work. Applicants without a current contract for the project duration must have their research organisation confirm they will extend contracts and provide necessary support. Research applications led by commercial entities or by international research organisations (except MRC Unit The Gambia and MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit at LSHTM) are not eligible.

Submit an application through the UKRI funding service application portal; one application per applicant as project lead and adherence to UKRI/MRC application requirements.