Overview 

Instruct-ERIC is launching a pilot call in collaboration with EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC (https://www.eu-openscreen.eu) to support exploratory target screening projects using EU-OPENSCREEN compound libraries and the complementary structural and biophysical technologies available across the Instruct-ERIC infrastructure. 

The aim of this pilot is to enable Instruct-ERIC facilities to evaluate the suitability of EU-OPENSCREEN libraries for identifying ligands, fragments, or chemical starting points against challenging biological targets, while fostering collaborative, multi-technology screening approaches across the Instruct-ERIC community. 

Projects selected through this call will receive access to one or more EU-OPENSCREEN screening libraries together with funding to support screening activities at participating Instruct Centres. 

Scope

Applications should propose screening of a biological target using one or several EU-OPENSCREEN libraries. Eligible targets include: 

• Proteins 
• DNA 
• RNA 
• Protein–protein complexes 
• Protein–nucleic acid complexes 
• Other biologically relevant macromolecular assemblies 

Applicants may propose screening using structural, biophysical, or complementary screening technologies available within Instruct-ERIC. 

Illustrative examples include: 

System	Library	Technology
Kinase	Kinase-specific library	X-ray crystallography
RNA	RNA-specific library* & EFSL library	NMR, SPR
Membrane Protein	EFSL library	Cryo-EM, Mass Spectrometry

*Note: the “RNA-specific library” corresponds to the RNA binding compound library made available by EU-OPENSCREEN. Full details of the libraries on offer, including specifications and any access fees, are set out under “Funding and access” below. 

Other combinations of target class, library type, and screening technology are welcome and will be considered by the panel, including biophysical screening approaches such as SPR, MST, ITC, DSF, native MS, or related methods available at Instruct Centres. 

Funding and access 

EU-OPENSCREEN will provide access to the selected screening library or libraries. 

• • European Fragment Screening Library (EFSL) — Comprises 968 fragments (100 mM in DMSO-d6; 96-, 384- plates) and 88 minifrags (1 M in DMSO-d6; 96- and 384-well plates). Provided free of charge; use remains subject to the EU-OPENSCREEN EFSL Terms & Conditions (mandatory acknowledgement statement, no redistribution, and deposition of screening data/metadata to the European Chemical Biology Database (ECBD) after the agreed embargo period). 
  • RNA binding compound library — Comprises 1,078 small molecules (10 mM in DMSO; 96-, 384- well plates). Subject to a per-screen access fee of 1300€. 
  • Rationally selected subsets  — Comprises 500 cherry-picked small molecules from the European Chemical Biology Library (ECBL) (10 mM in DMSO; 96-, 384-well plates). Subject to a per-screen access fee of 1300€.  

• Participating Instruct Centres will receive one or more library units for screening activities. 
• The maximum contribution from this pilot call is €6,000 per screen. Additional support will be available for facilities using EUOS libraries subject to a per-screen access fee (RNA binding compound library and ECBL library) 
• One project can have multiple screens associated with it. 
• Different Instruct partners can collaborate on the same proposals 
• e.g. NMR and/or crystallography/Biophysical techniques 
• Funding is intended to support screening-related costs at the participating Instruct centre(s). As such centres will be responsible for costs related to sample preparation. 

Projects involving more than one Instruct centre or more than one screening technology are encouraged where scientifically justified. Groups are encouraged to propose screening of the same target using complementary technologies (for example, NMR and cryo-EM, or X-ray and biophysical screening) where this would provide additional mechanistic or structural insight. 

Collaborative framework 

This call is designed to promote collaborative screening campaigns across the Instruct community. 

Applicants must agree that: 

• Screening data generated within the project will be shared among participating groups; 
• Results may be combined for joint analysis and publication; 
• Ideally results from previous screening campaigns would be included alongside results obtained from this call for comparative purposes. 
• Participating groups will work together in good faith towards a coordinated dissemination strategy. 
• Where a library subject to its own usage terms is used (e.g. the EFSL), applicants must additionally comply with the relevant EU-OPENSCREEN Terms & Conditions, including the mandatory acknowledgement statement and deposition of screening data and metadata to the European Chemical Biology Database (ECBD) after the agreed embargo period. 

Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by scientists within Instruct facilities across Instruct Centres and Research Sites. Collaborations involving multiple Instruct centres are strongly encouraged, though should be justified in the application. 

Acknowledgments 

• All publications, presentations, or other public disclosures resulting from this call must include the following acknowledgement statement 

“The work described here has been conducted at [affiliation], an Instruct-ERIC [centre/research site]." Financial support was provided by Instruct-ERIC  (APPID XXXX)" 

• All publications, presentations, or other public disclosures resulting from the use of the EFSL must include the following acknowledgement statement: 

“We acknowledge EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC for providing the European Fragment Screening Library (EFSL) for the presented scientific work. This fragment library was funded by the EC through the H2020 project EU-OPENSCREEN-DRIVE (grant number 8238939).” 

• All publications, presentations, or other public disclosures resulting from the use of the RNA binding compound library or the cherry-picked compound set must include the following acknowledgement statement: 

“We acknowledge EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC for providing access to the [RNA binding compound library / rationally selected compound set] for the presented scientific work.” 

Application Requirement

Applications should include: 

1. Project title 
2. Scientific background and rationale 
3. Description of the target 
4. Proposed library or libraries (and justification) 
5. Proposed screening technology or technologies (and justification) 
6. Participating Instruct centre(s) 
7. Expected outcomes and follow-up plans 
8. Data-sharing and publication plan 
9. Estimated budget (up to €6,000/screen) 

Applicants proposing complementary screening approaches should clearly describe the added value of the combined technologies. 

Evaluation criteria 

Applications will be assessed on the basis of: 

• Scientific quality and novelty 
• Suitability of the target for the proposed screening approach 
• Feasibility within the available infrastructure and budget 
• Potential impact for structural biology, chemical biology, or drug discovery 
• Added value of collaboration between Instruct centres and/or technologies 
• Commitment to data sharing and joint dissemination 

Further information 

Questions regarding eligibility, available technologies, or library selection should be directed to Instruct-ERIC and EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC through the contact details provided on the call webpage. 

Call Submission Guidelines

No guidelines found for this call.