Phenotypic Screening: Why, When and How

Phenotypic screening is experiencing a renaissance in the pharmaceutical industry based on its successful track record in delivering first-in-class medicines stemming from novel biology. Although phenotypic screening may appear at first sight to be similar to target-based screening there are fundamental differences between these two approaches.  

This course will cover a range of relevant topics with a goal of providing practical information to help prosecute phenotypic projects more effectively from assay design all the way to clinical trials.

Who Should Attend?

• Academic scientists considering or using phenotypic screens to discover novel biology and molecular probes
• Industry scientists considering or using phenotypic screens to discover novel targets and clinical candidates
• Commercial providers of reagents, instruments and services used in phenotypic screening

Course Benefits

Attendees will leave this course with a practical knowledge of key concepts and strategies in phenotypic screening supported by case studies and literature references to bring back to their organizations.

Course Topics

Morning Session:

• What is the rationale for conducting phenotypic screening?
• When does phenotypic drug discovery provide the most value? What may be the best indications for this strategy?
• Not all phenotypic assays are created equal: what are the characteristics of the best assays?
• Which libraries should be screened and why? Small molecule, antibody and/or genetic screening?

Afternoon Session:

• What are key considerations and strategies for phenotypic screening hit triage and validation?
• How do we best approach target/mechanism identification and validation?
• Safety derisking and clinical progression in the absence of a target: considerations and practical approaches
• Artificial intelligence applications in phenotypic screening
• Phenotypic profiling technologies: Transcriptomics and Cell Painting description and applications
• Case studies: from screen to novel biology and first in class drugs

Instructors

Fabien Vincent, PhD

Fabien Vincent is a senior drug discovery scientist with experience as both an in vitro pharmacology group leader and a drug discovery project leader. He gained expertise in pharmacology at Pfizer (2010-2025) as a laboratory head in the Primary Pharmacology Group. There, his laboratory supported the small molecule portfolio of the Immunology & Inflammation research unit, helping deliver 15 clinical candidates with two becoming FDA approved drugs (Abrocitinib, Ritlecitinib).

His remit spanned target identification & validation, designing and executing hit identification & validation strategies, structure-activity relationships (SAR) support, mechanistic studies and study reports for the FDA. His main research interests are centered on drugging tough-but-well-validated targets and improving the translation of preclinical research to patients using physiologically relevant assays and phenotypic screening.