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By Christine Giordano
SBS Executive Director
 The Society for Biomolecular Sciences will be hosting its 10th Anniversary SBS Conference and Exhibition next year in sunny Orlando, Florida, and we invite you to join us from September 11-15 for a special celebration
of discovery through community. The science and technological applications behind drug and agro-chemical discovery have undergone profound changes over the past decade, and the society
and its members have been an integral part of that change. In the words of Douglas Kell, a Professor of Bioanalytical Science at UMIST, UK, and SBS member since 1997, the society is a
touchstone, “providing an independent forum where all of the issues can get discussed by all of the stakeholders in a friendly manner.”
As we embark upon the next 10 years, we will continue to provide an impartial
forum for the exchange of ideas and serve as a catalyst for new discoveries.
Looking Ahead
We’re delighted that Drs. Christopher Lipinski (Pfizer) and Stephen
Rees (GlaxoSmithKline), two renowned scientists, will be chairing the
proceedings. Presentations will highlight practical solutions to today’s
challenges in drug discovery and related fields, and include informed
views on what to expect in the next decade.
Proposed topics include:
- Biopharmaceuticals: What SBS Members Ought to Know
- Challenges in Reagent Provisions: Keeping Pace with uHTS
- Chemogenomics: Using Chemistry to Select Targets
- Reducing Attrition through High-Throughput ADMETox
- Evolution of HTS: A Critical Analysis
- Role of in vivo and in vitro Imaging in Drug Discovery
- Critical Comparison of Screening Technologies
- Concept to Product: Business Development and IP Issues
- Lead-like versus Drug-like Libraries
- Pathway Analysis: Target Selection and Screen Development
- Identifying Hits: Statistics of HTS
- Expanding the Druggable Genome
- Point/Counterpoint: What are the Future Targets?
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Sharing information is only half of the equation for a successful society. SBS also prides itself on being a fun organization; thus, our corporate sponsors have organized myriad special
events over the years to foster personal connections.
Orlando is no exception. The opening reception and banquet dinner will be held at two different theme parks, allowing attendees an opportunity to relax and have fun after a long day
of meetings. Since the city offers visitors an abundance of evening activities, the biggest decision will be where to go and what to do!
Looking Back
The conference will open with a special symposium, “Drug Discovery - A Retrospective,” which will give us all an opportunity to reflect on how far the field of drug discovery—and
SBS—have come over the past 10 years.
At its inception in 1994, SBS had 407 members, a small annual conference, and complimentary space for society updates in another organization’s quarterly newsletter. Today, the
society encompasses an international membership of more than 2,000 scientists working in 24 countries, and educational opportunities have expanded substantially to include a series of
virtual seminars, a growing list of short courses, and regional meetings. Scientific achievements are recognized through an annual awards program and, more recently, an endowment fund
offering small grants was established to support novel research and the development of academic programs. In addition, the erstwhile quarterly newsletter has evolved into the society-owned,
peer-reviewed Journal of Biomolecular Screening.
Come be part of the SBS 10th Anniversary Celebration in 2004 and help promote change as we move into the next era of discovery. See you in Orlando!
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Advancing The Science of Drug Discovery
Stories in This Issue:
