Chemists with Huntsman Cancer Institute's Center for Investigational Therapeutics Program search for new agents that can be developed into cancer therapies. Our approach to small molecule drug discovery involves rapid screening of a proprietary compound fragment library which was derived using a computational algorithm.

This library is a collection of building-block chemicals with drug-like properties and the potential to interact with target proteins. Information in the library directs our investigators in the discovery of new small molecules that may interact with proteins shown to play a role in the onset or progression of cancer. Using computer-aided drug design and systems biology techniques, our team identifies drugs that may modulate the activity of these cancer-related proteins.