Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 21st Annual

Fragment-Based Drug Discovery

Small-Molecule Fragments for Generating New Therapeutic Lead Molecules

April 14-15, 2026


Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) efforts are especially useful for identifying novel small-molecule drug leads against challenging targets such as protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and other ‘featureless’ proteins that lack traditional binding pockets. Entering its third decade, Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Fragment-Based Drug Discovery conference highlights advancements in fragment-library design, biophysical screening technologies, and real-world case studies of fragment-to-lead success. It also explores emerging fragment applications such as for covalent-inhibitor discovery, activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), or as starting points for bifunctional degrader design in targeted protein-degradation approaches (TPD). Join fellow experts from both industry and academia to share insights, overcome challenges, and shape the next generation of fragment-based therapeutics.

Coverage will likely include:

  • Fragment-library innovations, (e.g., combining (DEL) approaches)
  • Advances in fragment screening (NMR, SPR, native mass spec, x-ray crystallographic screening, or not)
  • Impacts of machine learning
  • Fragments for proteomic approaches, (e.g., F-ABPP)
  • Fragments for TPD approaches, (e.g., degrader discovery)
  • Covalent fragments for targeted covalent-inhibitor discovery
  • Fragment-assisted drug discovery: integrating results from other hit-finding strategies such as DEL
  • FBDD success stories (hit to lead and beyond) 

The deadline for priority consideration is September 30, 2025.

All proposals are subject to review by session chairpersons and/or the Scientific Advisory Committee to ensure the overall quality of the conference program. Additionally, as per Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s policy, a select number of vendors and consultants who provide products and services will be offered opportunities for podium presentation slots based on a variety of Corporate Sponsorships.

Opportunities for Participation:

For more details on the conference, please contact:
Anjani Shah, PhD
Senior Conference Director
Cambridge Healthtech Institute
(+1) 781-247-6252
Email: ashah@healthtech.com

For sponsorship information, please contact:
Kristin Skahan
Senior Business Development Manager
Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Phone: (+1) 781-972-5431
Email: kskahan@healthtech.com