About this Event
The Queensland Drug Discovery Alliance (QDDA) Symposium returns on 8 May 2026 at the TRI Auditorium in Brisbane.
Registrations open at 8:30 am, with the symposium starting at 8:50 am.
This full-day event is designed to support researchers working in early-stage small-molecule drug discovery, with a focus on practical insights and real-world translational pathways. Whether you are refining an early idea or progressing towards a more mature program, the symposium will provide a clearer understanding of how to move your research forward.
The program has been developed with input from Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs), ensuring the content addresses challenges and critical questions encountered along the drug discovery pathway.
Across the day, sessions will examine key principles that shape the early drug discovery pipeline, including:
- What makes a strong drug discovery target
- Scientific and strategic considerations of different drug discovery strategies, including screening-, targeted-, and natural product-based approaches
- What makes a strong drug discovery target
- Case studies highlighting the critical scientific capabilities available to researchers through the QDDA
- Selecting and validating preclinical models
- Intellectual property considerations
- How and when to engage with partners and industry
All attendees will have the opportunity to network with peers and experts and also unwind by joining a fun drug-discovery themed board game session after the symposium.
A pitching session will be held during the lunch break, with 12 EMCRs selected to present their research to a panel of experts and peers. The top three presenters will each receive a travel support prize of up to $3,000.
Submit an by 22 April 2026, 5pm (AEST).
For more information, download the pitch
Register now to secure your place.
About QDDA
QDDA is a consortium of leading translational research facilities, each supported by Therapeutic Innovation Australia and the Queensland Government, dedicated to enabling the effective translation of Queensland's cutting-edge biomedical research. By providing critical expertise across the early drug discovery pipeline, QDDA enables researchers to translate innovative ideas into novel medicines to make a real difference in healthcare.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, Australia
AUD 0.00
