Platforms to Identify Candidate Drugs (PICD) Program Workshop
BARDA and VITAL are hosting an interactive, in-person workshop to shape the future of the Platforms to Identify Candidate Drugs (PICD) Program. PICD is a new initiative exploring how AI-driven approaches can incorporate multimodal modeling, biomedical knowledge bases and real-world data to accelerate the identification and prioritization of repurposed (including repositioned, natural products and combination) drug candidates.
This workshop will provide stakeholders an opportunity to align on state-of-the-art capabilities, validate assumptions for the vision, and inform a high-impact program.
What to Expect
Aid in brainstorming AI-driven solutions for drug candidate identification for national health security threats. Through facilitated discussions, breakout sessions, and structured networking, participants will have the opportunity to:
Help shape the future of the program. Contribute your expertise through interactive discussions and breakout sessions that will directly influence program direction and priorities.
Collaborate with technology leaders. Explore emerging ideas, exchange perspectives, and help envision capabilities that don't exist today.
Showcase your work. Present a poster highlighting your technology or capability, increase its visibility, and connect with colleagues who share your interests.
Expand your network and build partnerships. Meet potential collaborators and identify teaming opportunities to strengthen future proposals and initiatives.
Connect directly with BARDA. Take advantage of brief one-on-one meetings with BARDA to share insights and discuss opportunities.
Who Should Attend
Real-World Data (RWD) and Real-World Evidence (RWE): Groups that have access to RWD; ability to aggregate and integrate diverse data sources (e.g., electronic health records, claims, pharmacy, and other healthcare data); and ability to analyze RWD to generate regulatory-grade real-world evidence.
AI-Enabled Molecular Discovery Platforms: Groups that have developed or are developing and applying multimodal, AI-driven approaches for therapeutic discovery and prioritization, including computational biology, data mining, systems biology, multi-omics, structure-based modeling, and network-based methods.
Translational Clinical Pharmacology Modeling: Groups that develop and apply in silico approaches to support drug development, including ADME, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling, dose selection, and candidate feasibility assessment.
Translational Toxicology Modeling: Groups that develop and utilize computational methods to evaluate drug safety, including prediction of therapeutic index, organ-specific toxicity, drug-drug interactions (DDIs), and other toxicological endpoints.
Mechanistic Disease Modeling: Groups that develop and utilize quantitative systems pharmacology, virtual patient and population modeling, disease progression simulations, host-pathogen interaction modeling, immune response modeling, clinical endpoint prediction, and other mechanistic approaches that predict drug effects across complex biological systems.
Disease and Clinical Domain Expertise: Individuals with scientific or clinical expertise relevant to the workshop's initial use cases, including Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers, botulinum neurotoxin intoxication, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and radiation injury.
Drug Development and Repurposing: Individuals or groups with expertise in regulatory science and strategy, drug development, commercialization, intellectual property, and strategies to enable therapeutic repurposing.
Agenda
Registration & Breakfast · 8:30 – 9:00 AM
Welcome & Networking · 9:00 – 9:30 AM
Vision for PICD · 9:30 – 9:50 AM
Breakout Session 1 & Report-Out · 9:50 – 10:45 AM
Break · 10:45 - 11:00 AM
Breakout Session 2 & Report-Out · 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch & Networking · 12:30 - 1:15 PM
Discussion: Partnering & Teaming · 1:15 – 1:45 PM
Closing Remarks · 1:45 – 2:00 PM
1:1 Sessions with BARDA & Poster Sessions · 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Agenda subject to changes.
Poster Session
If you have a technology capability to share that you believe can contribute to PICD, present a poster at the workshop.
Express your interest here.
Please note: Submission of desire to express poster does not register you for the event – attendance requires signing up through the Luma registration form above. This does not confirm your participation in the poster session, as there is limited space. You will receive separate confirmation if you are selected to present.
Don't miss this rare opportunity. Engage with leading experts to co-create bold, AI-driven approaches with the potential to reshape the future of medical countermeasure development.
Please note: Space is limited. Attendance is reserved for approved registrants, and confirmation will be required for entry.
VITAL is the BARDA Accelerator Network hub supporting development of innovative therapeutic and vaccine solutions for infectious diseases and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. VITAL is managed by Start2 Group, with partners Advise Connect Inspire (ACI) and BioLabs.
About BARDA Accelerator Network
Established by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the BARDA Accelerator Network fosters the growth of health security innovation ecosystems globally and accelerates the development and commercialization of next-generation health security solutions.