Discussion

In 2014, Tralau-Stewart et al [1] published an account of academic screening undertakings within the UK, written to reflect responses received to a circulated questionnaire. In many ways, this represented an accurate depiction of academic screening at the time. However, their findings also highlighted that:
1) academic screening was conducted in 'traditional' research groups, with only 13% operating in a dedicated facility
2) “access to HTS facilities and associated compound libraries was not reported by any UK group” [1]

Centre-led academic screening groups and industry standard drug discovery programmes conducted within an academic environment in the UK has, to date, been grossly understated. We present a comprehensive representation of Academic Screening Groups and Drug Discovery Units within the UK [2].

[1] Tralau-Stewart, C., C.M.R. Low, and N. Marlin, UK academic drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov, 2014. 13(1): p. 15-16.
[2] Shanks, E., Ketteler, R., Ebner, D, Academic Drug Discovery within the UK - a reassessment. Nat Rev Drug Discov, 2015 (in press)