Small Molecule High Throughput Screen Using Astrazeneca Facilities

The Small Molecule High Throughput Screen using AstraZeneca Facilities is a targeted grant funding opportunity delivered by the Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This competition enables UK-based academic researchers to undertake high-throughput screening (HTS) of large chemical libraries using AstraZeneca’s state-of-the-art compound collection and screening infrastructure, accelerating the discovery of potential small molecule starting points for therapeutic development.

This opportunity provides funding for up to four projects per year, with a total fund of £1,000,000 and individual awards up to £270,000. Projects typically run for 12 to 18 months and are expected to begin within six months of the funding decision.

Access to AstraZeneca’s comprehensive compound library and automated HTS platforms allows researchers to rapidly test large numbers of chemical entities against biological targets of interest. AstraZeneca also contributes technical support for assay optimisation and pilot screening, enabling applicants to generate high-quality screening data that can underpin downstream drug discovery efforts.

In the current round, applications related to mental health or dementia (including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease) will receive a strategic uplift during assessment, although the competition remains open to all targets.

To lead a project, applicants must be based at an eligible UK research organisation, and applications led by commercial entities are not eligible. UKRI also offers support mechanisms to promote equality, diversity and flexible working for applicants throughout the application process.

This funding opportunity enhances the UK’s biomedical research capability by providing researchers with rare access to industrial HTS resources and expertise, reducing technical barriers to early drug discovery and strengthening academic contributions to therapeutic innovation.