High Throughput Screening Assays to Map Macrocyclic Peptide Permeability and Stability Properties

AstraZeneca, a global science-led biopharmaceutical business, is seeking screening assays or predictive models relevant to oral bioavailability and cell permeability of macrocyclic peptides to help map and model the property space required for oral and cell-permeable macrocyclic therapeutics. The selected collaborator will receive at least 8 benchmark compounds to confirm permeability ranking in a blinded study, with compounds unblinded afterward for free use by the collaborator.

Approaches of interest

• High-throughput screening assays (in vitro and ex vivo) or advanced in silico platforms for quantifying key properties relevant to oral bioavailability and cellular permeability of macrocyclic peptides
• Novel or proprietary methods for predicting, quantifying, or modelling the physicochemical space that governs permeability and oral absorption in macrocyclic peptides
• Annotated data generated from screening methods
• Solutions enabling parallel evaluation of multiple macrocyclic peptides or delivering mechanistic or predictive insights into determinants of oral and cell permeability
   

Out of Scope

• Proposals that are hypothetical or lack experimental feasibility
• Low-throughput experimental or predictive modelling approaches that are not scalable for parallel evaluation of large compound sets (lower priority)
   

Developmental stage of interest:  Solutions should provide experimental proof-of-concept, published evidence, or actionable approaches for generating datasets or screening tools, and must be immediately translatable. Selected applicants will participate in a virtual Challenge Week to pitch ideas and develop workplans with AstraZeneca scientists, with winning projects beginning quickly under collaboration agreements.

Email Cameron Sargent or Swapneeta Date for more information.

Please note: Full RFP is attached in the "More Information" section of this page. Faculty and researchers interested in applying for these opportunities based on technologies developed or disclosed at Vanderbilt must submit their proposals through the CTTC.