Module 1: Target Safety Assessment

Recorded On: 02/19/2026

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Target safety assessment encompasses two key aspects that are critical to the early discovery phase. First, a comprehensive evaluation must identify potential unintended adverse consequences that result from engagement of the specific target. Second, the discovery toxicologist must be able to present the identified risks and a mitigation strategy that will assess potential on-target toxicities in order to guide program development decisions. There are several approaches that can be used to continuously assess target safety during the drug discovery process. This module will provide an in-depth explanation of how to understand an early-stage target from a safety perspective as well as strategies for derisking a target of interest.

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Module 1: Target Safety Assessment
Module 1: Target Safety Assessment, Ruth Roberts, PhD, ATS, FBTS, ERT, FRSB, FRCPath
Recorded 02/19/2026  |  90 minutes
Recorded 02/19/2026  |  90 minutes Target safety assessment encompasses two key aspects that are critical to the early discovery phase. First, a comprehensive evaluation must identify potential unintended adverse consequences that result from engagement of the specific target. Second, the discovery toxicologist must be able to present the identified risks and a mitigation strategy that will assess potential on-target toxicities in order to guide program development decisions. There are several approaches that can be used to continuously assess target safety during the drug discovery process. This module will provide an in-depth explanation of how to understand an early-stage target from a safety perspective as well as strategies for derisking a target of interest.
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Ruth A. Roberts, PhD, ATS, FBTS, ERT, FRSB, FRCPat

Ruth A. Roberts, PhD, ATS, FBTS, ERT, FRSB, FRCPat

ApconiX, Ltd.

Professor Ruth A. Roberts is Chair and Director of Drug Discovery at Birmingham University and Cofounder of ApconiX, an integrated toxicology and ion channel research company. Previously, Professor Roberts was Global Head of Regulatory Safety at AstraZeneca (2004–2014). Professor Roberts is former president of several international scientific societies including the BTS and EUROTOX, and is recent past Chair of the HESI Board. She was elected fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2012 and the Royal Society of Biology in 2014. She has received numerous awards including the SOT 2018 Founders Award and the ATS 2022 ‘Millie’ award. Her company ApconiX received the Queen’s award for Enterprise in 2022, the King’s Award for Enterprise 2024 followed by the King’s Award for Innovation, 2025 for work on drug safety and CNS liability. She has >190 publications in peer reviewed journals and is a regular invited speaker on the international stage. Ruth is interested in developing and implementing innovative models in drug discovery and development.