In drug discovery research, a chemical library is an indispensable tool to provide research materials to analyze their effects on the regulation of cellular functions. Drug Discovery Chemical Bank Unit takes over the role of a chemical bank in the RIKEN program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms (DMP). We store compounds synthesized or purchased during exploration and structure optimization of drugs and supply them for validation of biological activity, toxicity, or safety. Moreover, we are enriching the chemical library by cooperating with research groups of the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Sciences. Information on our chemical library can be found in the online chemical compound database “NPEdia” (http://www.cbrg.riken.jp/npedia/?LANG=en) accessible by everybody.
Through these technical platforms, we support the identification of novel lead compounds and optimization of chemical structures to promote drug discovery research. We also provide secondary metabolites isolated from actinomycetes and fungi as a screening source for drug discovery. We promote drug discovery research through developing technological platforms by enriching the chemical library and screening lead compounds.
In the Drug Discovery Chemical Bank Unit, we have constructed a chemical library consisting of a variety of natural products, such as the secondary metabolites isolated from actinomycetes, fungi, and plants. RIKEN Natural Products Depository (NPDepo) has collected and stored more than 130,000 compounds to date, with approximately 59,000 compounds available for research purpose. The detailed information of compounds, such as name, identity, structure, origin, and bioactivity, are registered in the molecular database “NPEdia,” and it is open to everybody. In “NPEdia,” we can search for compounds with the terms mentioned above as query, and/or with substructures. We can also supply some of the chemicals to researchers who wish to use them for drug discovery purposes.
We are going to expand the number of compounds stored in “NPDepo” and increase the number of distributable compounds. We will also include more information in the chemical database “NPEdia.”
The business development office handles alliances for collaboration with companies, universities, and external research institutes. It is also involved in licensing intellectual property rights to companies in collaboration with RIKEN Innovation.
Mission of Translational Research Office (TRO), the competent team which consists of number of experts of translational research (TR) from industry, academic TR institutes, regulatory organizations, is to support projects establishing clinical development plan.
