Quantitative structure activity relationship analysis (Qsar) involves using statistical techniques to analyse chemical and biological data to predict the effects of compounds on biological systems
The University of Surrey and IDBS, a provider of software and services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, will host the UK Qsar and Chemoinformatics Group meeting on 13-14 April 2005 at the University of Surrey.
Leading scientists in the field of quantitative structure activity relationship analysis (Qsar) will speak at the conference.
Qsar involves using statistical techniques to analyse chemical and biological data in order to predict the effects of compounds on biological systems.
Qsar offers benefits in both drug discovery and environmental research.
Part of the meeting will be dedicated to debating the validation of Qsar models and methods for applicability domain estimation - among the hottest topics in Qsar today.
Neil Kipling, chairman and CEO of IDBS, commented: "The development of robust computational techniques to support drug creation is of paramount importance if the pharmaceutical industry is to reduce the overall costs of drug development and bring more medicines to market faster.
"IDBS is proud to be working with the University of Surrey and the UK Qsar and Chemoinformatics Group to bring together this prestigious group of scientists to share expertise in order to advance this exciting field of research".
Brendan Howlin, senior lecturer in computational chemistry at the University of Surrey, commented: "The choice of the University of Surrey for this event reflects the chemistry division's strong research and teaching activities in all aspects of computational pharmaceutical research.
"We run the UK's longest standing MChem degree course in computer aided chemistry, teaching chemoinformatics at undergraduate level, and are carrying out research into Qsar and chemoinformatics jointly sponsored by the EPSRC and IDBS".
Prior to the conference, IDBS will host an open day at its offices on the Surrey Research Park to showcase its technologies and services.
Delegates will attend workshops and see how IDBS's PredictionBase suite puts the benefits of in silico prediction in the hands of bench scientists, which aids the development of effective medicines.
