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NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 75 years: 1950-2025 75 years: 1950-2025
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  4. Translational Research
  5. Lead Optimization

Translational Research: Lead Optimization

Lead optimization is the process of generating a pre-therapeutic lead candidate by improving the properties of small molecules or non-viral biologics for which positive and negative attributes have been identified and candidates are tractable to modification. Examples of properties to be improved may be potency, efficacy, selectivity, or bioavailability. This process typically involves the generation and testing of multiple new agents in order to gain a scientific understanding of how variations in lead candidates effect these properties. It is expected that lead optimization will involve assessment of efficacy in animal models and/or ex vivo human samples.

Starting Points
  1. Disease
    Biology
  2. Unvalidated
    Target
    Target ID
    Putative
    Targets
  3. Nominated
    Target
    Assay Development
    Screenable
    Assays
  4. Target Assay
    Screening
    Hits and
    Starting Points
  5. Lead
    Compound
    Lead
    Optimization
    Potential
    Therapeutic
    Leads
  6. Clinical
    Candidate
    Clinical
    Development
    Clinical Proof
    of Concept
  7. Licensing and
    Commercializa-
    tion Partners
    Market-ready
    Therapeutics
Outcomes and Resources

NIH Funding Opportunities

  • PAR-22-111 NIH external link, Early-Stage Preclinical Validation of Therapeutic Leads for Diseases of Interest to the NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 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 NOFO (PA-20-185 NIH external link) and consider requesting review assignment to any of CSR’s Drug Synthesis, Discovery, Disposition, and Xenobiotics study sections NIH external link, or another relevant review panel. Applicants should consult the NIH/CSR study section descriptions NIH external link before requesting a specific review panel. 

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

Last Reviewed October 2024