The Chemical Probes Portal hosted its third Chemical Probes Hackathon on June 17th, 2024, at Boehringer Ingelheim’s facilities in Biberach, Germany. Building on the experience of previous events, this year’s hackathon was a fantastic success. The 28 international students and six experts came together to review 30 chemical probes in a single day.

Participants included PhD and Master’s students from 10 different universities in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, as well as experts from both academia and industry, including members of the Chemical Probes Portal. The goal of the hackathon was to evaluate the quality of chemical probes, which are crucial tools in biomedical research and drug discovery.

Engaging Minds, Evaluating Probes

The hackathon was an incredible learning experience, enabling students to develop their ability to distinguish effective chemical probes from non-specific compounds targeting protein targets. With the guidance of experienced mentors, the teams conducted comprehensive reviews, resulting in 30 detailed evaluations. The potency, selectivity and target engagement within cells of chemical probes were evaluated. Additionally, the availability of orthogonal and control compounds for chemical probes were assessed. The objective of the hackathon was to examine whether the reviewed probes met the rigorous standards set forth by the Portal.

Expert Guidance and Collaboration

The event featured distinguished experts, including Lars Wortmann and Annekatrin Heimann from the Medicinal Chemistry department of Boehringer Ingelheim, Florian Montel from the Open Science Group of Boehringer Ingelheim , Vaclav Nemec and Thomas Hanke from SGC Frankfurt, and Daniel Merk from LMU Munich. Their guidance was invaluable in ensuring the quality and depth of the probe evaluations.

Florian Montel summarizes the day: "It was a genuine delight to spend these hours with aspiring drug hunters, imparting Boehringer Ingelheim's expertise in the use of probe compounds. The experience has been invigorating, especially being challenged by their insightful queries."

Positive Feedback and Future Prospects

The participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the hackathon, with many rating the event as excellent. The majority of participants gave the event a 4 out of 4-star rating. The feedback highlighted the event’s challenging yet beneficial nature, the effectiveness of the provided guidelines, and the expert support.

Final Remarks and Certificates

Dr. Jürgen Mack, Head of Global Medicinal Chemistry at Boehringer Ingelheim, personally delivered the final remarks of the day and handed out certificates of attendance, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of all participants.

Organizers and Logistics

Special thanks go to the event organizers Dr. Oliver Krämer, Dr. Miriam Latuske, and Dr. Rebecca Ebenhoch, whose efforts in planning and logistics were instrumental in the event’s success. The Chemical Probes Portal is actively seeking partner organizations to host future hackathons globally. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to facilitate or participate in these valuable events.

Reviewing Chemical Probes: Success at Boehringer Ingelheim’s Third Hackathon