Preclinical Drug Discovery: Turning Data into Decisions

In the current drug development landscape, data serves as the engine that drives faster and more strategic decisions. Despite the availability of data in preclinical research, organizations continue to face challenges in transforming data into meaningful insights that influence business outcomes. Additionally, regulatory expectations require transparency and interpretability of predicted outputs, which increases the need for standardization of quality data and overall governance of predictive technologies.

To address these challenges, organizations can strategically leverage data by first ensuring consistency and reliability, which underpins predictive technologies. Such curated data supports predictive modeling that complies with regulatory standards and allows systematic processing of millions of records. For instance, it helps identify potential adverse effects when modulating a drug target and semantic mapping of ontologies and concepts to maximize the use of standardized nonclinical data and bridge preclinical and clinical insights. Such strategic use of data enables organizations to shift towards a proactive decision-making framework, where insights are traceable and delivered efficiently.

To explore how these challenges are being addressed in practice, this webinar will showcase technologies designed to maximize data value across the preclinical research lifecycle. This webinar will highlight critical technology capabilities, such as integration into workflows supporting regulatory guidelines like ICH S1B (potentially replacing the two-year rat carcinogenicity study), ICH M7 and the emerging concepts in Step 2 of the ICH Q3E guideline currently under public consultation. Finally, this webinar will explore non-regulatory applications, such as an evaluation of drug candidate toxicity profiling and evaluating the predictivity of preclinical studies for clinical outcomes.

Register for this webinar to learn how data-driven strategies can enhance preclinical drug discovery and improve downstream decision-making.

Speakers

Brenda Finney, PhD, Director of Product - In Silico & Data Insights, Instem

Dr. Finney is a seasoned leader in the life sciences with over two decades of experience spanning biomedical research, translational science and data-driven product innovation. She leads the development of strategic roadmaps and cross-functional product teams to drive market-focused innovation at Instem. Previously, Brenda served as Vice President of Translational Science, where she championed data integration across the preclinical-to-clinical spectrum. Her career includes leadership roles in Molecular Pathology at Propath UK and Scientific Direction at Sequani, where she advanced biomarker analysis and immunohistochemistry services. Brenda began her career in academic research, contributing to studies on thrombosis and lung development at the University of Birmingham and Cardiff University. She earned her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Cardiff University and an MRes in Biomedical Research from the University of Manchester. Brenda is known for her collaborative approach, strategic vision and commitment to scientific excellence.

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Kevin Cross, PhD, Director of In Silico Science, Instem

Kevin P. Cross, PhD, is the Director of In Silico Science at Instem and is the Principal Investigator of US FDA/Instem research collaborations. He has been developing chemoinformatic tools and products for over 40 years. He is involved in several collaborative efforts, creating In Silico protocols and procedures for performing chemical hazard and risk assessments for regulatory purposes, as well as developing and assessing the performance of QSAR models. He has published over 45 papers and three book chapters.

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Frances Hall, PhD, Scientific Application Director, Instem

Frances has over a decade of experience at the forefront of scientific solutions, supporting the pharmaceutical industry, with a specialization in translational science and regulatory toxicology. A frequent presenter at international conferences and a contributor to regulatory working groups, she is also a published author in the fields of toxicology and microbiology. Frances holds a BSc in Medical and Forensic Science from Bradford University and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from the University of East Anglia.  Frances supports business development and client engagement, combining deep scientific expertise with a passion for clear communication, mentoring and strategic growth. Her career spans roles in application support, scientific communication and regulatory alignment, with a strong focus on delivering impactful, client-centric solutions. Outside of Instem, she is a One Nucleus Mentor and scientific podcaster.

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Candice Johnson, PhD, Product Manager, Instem

Candice Johnson, PhD, is a Product Manager at Instem. Dr. Johnson has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on the implementation of In Silico methods to increase confidence in predictions. Her work also explores novel applications of In Silico approaches and supports the advancement of alternative methods. She is particularly interested in using computational tools to support toxicological assessments, such as evaluating extractables and leachables.

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