In this webinar, leading scientists will explore how a Direct-to-Biology (D2B) approach can help accelerate drug discovery. The session will begin with an overview of the D2B services model, including its key advantages and a representative workflow supported by internally generated data on bifunctional degradation.
This will be followed by a case study demonstrating how a D2B strategy was used to identify a CNS-active GSK3 degrader, along with a discussion of future prospects for the approach.
Attendees will come away with a solid understanding of:
- Direct-to-Biology services in drug discovery
- How D2B approaches can help speed up the drug discovery process
- Why high-throughput workflows are so important in this space
- Real-world examples and case studies
- The variety of bioassays and chemistry that are compatible with D2B
- Putting D2B into practice
- How this approach has been used to discover bifunctional compounds for the central nervous system
Date: 28 April 2026
Time: 8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM BST
About the moderator
Joanne Wayne – Associate Director, Drug Discovery at Pharmaron
Joanne Wayne joined Pharmaron in June 2023 with over 25 years of cellular and molecular biology experience in drug discovery, having worked on projects ranging from early discovery, target identification, and validation, to Phase 2 clinical trial assistance.
Wayne worked as a team leader and biology project lead at Amphista before joining Pharmaron, where she supported protein degradation collaboration projects with global pharmaceutical companies.
A former employee of Vernalis and GSK for over 20 years, Wayne has previously supported numerous small-molecule, structure-based drug discovery initiatives as both project and biology lead.
She was instrumental in establishing Vernalis' targeted protein degradation platform and has presented and participated in expert discussion panels on the topic.
About the speakers
Chris Wellaway – Associate Director, Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery at Pharmaron
Chris Wellaway is a medicinal chemist who started at Pharmaron in June 2022 as an assistant director. Prior to this, he worked at GSK for 17 years and received his PhD from the University of Strathclyde.
Wellaway has directed molecular glue and PROTAC initiatives, as well as worked on a variety of target classes, including E3 ligases, kinases, bromodomains, and GPCRs via multiple modes of administration.
He has prior experience in phenotypic screening and target identification, hit identification (e.g., fragments and DEL), lead discovery, and lead optimization. Wellaway is particularly interested in utilizing modern drug discovery methodologies such as machine learning and direct to biology, as well as PROTACs and molecular glues.
William Farnaby – Principal Investigator at the University of Dundee Center for Targeted Protein Degradation
Dr. William Farnaby is a Principal Investigator at the University of Dundee's Center for Targeted Protein Degradation, and his research group uses induced proximity chemistry to treat and study central nervous system diseases.
Farnaby formerly led a major drug discovery team for Targeted Protein Degradation as part of a University of Dundee-Boehringer-Ingelheim cooperation.
He has made significant contributions to the realm of targeted protein degradation, and as a medicinal chemist at Takeda, he co-invented many clinical candidates for CNS diseases, including Soticlestat, a CH24Hi medication for Dravet syndrome.