At Open Targets, we are improving how targets are selected for drug discovery.
Drugs against genetically validated targets are more likely to progress through clinical trials. The influx of new data from modern genetics and genomics allows targets to be assessed in a comprehensive genome-wide context. In addition, feasibility of new technologies in gene editing, single cell sequencing and cell models allow new types of data to be generated to inform target selection.
We bring these approaches together in an integrated pre-competitive research programme.
We consider target selection to encompass two key steps, target identification and target prioritisation. Target identification defines targets with significant associations to the disease biology. Target prioritisation refines the list of targets on the strength of the association evidence and additional target and disease parameters such as target tractability by drug modality, and likely target-based safety risks. We work together with scientists across our partner organisations to identify areas where our research programme will enhance target identification and prioritisation either by integrating and analysing data, or by generating new data in our therapeutic areas of interest.
Our research programme generates and analyses data to connect targets to diseases, assess the strength of this evidence, and help identify and prioritise targets for drug discovery. This includes evidence that causally links targets and diseases, as well as foundational data that helps us understand biological processes and disease progression more deeply.
Within the research programme, we combine whole genome approaches and high throughput methods to address the full range of relevant targets in disease in the most relevant cellular systems. We use the expertise of all our partners in emerging and established technologies, focusing on three therapy areas to generate new understanding:
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Take a look at our publications to read about our recent work.Our core bioinformatics work focusses on bringing together the various, relevant data on targets to allow simple and seamless exploration by drug discovery scientists. We cover many data types relevant to human disease biology and target identification using the expertise from Open Targets partners and beyond.
Our overall approach to target identification and prioritisation is brought to life in the Open Targets Platform, which integrates public data relevant to the association between targets and diseases, and provides additional data and tools for prioritisation.
The Platform is an open source project and will continue to evolve as we bring new features and data to bear. Explore the Platform at platform.opentargets.org.
Additional ancillary projects in the area of bioinformatics include development of the eQTL Catalogue, network analysis for drug target list expansion, and enhanced data for the Open Targets Platform, including additional data from clinical trial records and data on the effect of mutations on protein function. We also release and support standalone informatics tools associated with our various projects. Explore our informatics tools.