Open Targets is an innovative, large-scale, multi-year, public-private partnership that uses human genetics and genomics data for systematic drug target identification and prioritisation.

Visit the Open Targets Platform which integrates public domain data to enable target identification and prioritisation, or Open Targets Genetics which identifies targets based on GWAS and functional genomics. We complement data integration with large scale systematic experimental approaches to support target identification, prioritisation and validation. Check out our latest papers describing our experimental target identification approaches in oncology, neurodegeneration, and immunity and inflammation.


News

Why clinical trials stop: the role of genetics

29 July 2024

Using machine learning to analyse the genetic factors behind early clinical trial termination, researchers find a link between genetic evidence and trial outcome.


Failure is the most likely outcome of a clinical trial. Learning from these failures by understanding which factors maximise the chances of a successful trial would help improve the drug discovery process. However, accessing information about failed clinical trials is difficult since the dr...

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Our Partners

At the heart of Open Targets is a consortium of complementary partner institutions that bring their respective expertise to collaborative projects that improve how we systematically identify and prioritise drug targets.


Our Principles

A systematic approach

Systematically identify and prioritise the best targets to safely and effectively treat rare and common diseases

Rapid publication

We are committed to rapid publication and making data, methods and results publicly available as soon as possible

Open collaboration

We believe in non-exclusive partnerships that foster the free exchange of ideas, expertise, and data


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Three reflections from David Hulcoop's first year as Executive Director

David Hulcoop

13 August 2024

Tutorial: Introducing the Open Targets Standalone Deployment Tool

Manuel Bernal Llinares

2 July 2024

Open Targets Platform 24.06 has been released!

Sir Target

19 June 2024

How Ana Cvejic built an immune atlas of lung cancer

Helena Cornu

23 May 2024

Integrating pharmacogenetics data: a new lens for target prioritisation

Irene López Santiago, April Shen

9 May 2024

Open Targets Platform 24.03 has been released!

Sir Target

20 March 2024

Q&A with Lucy Sibbring, an intern with the Open Targets data team

Helena Cornu

29 February 2024

Open Targets Platform 23.12 has been released!

Sir Target

30 November 2023

Q&A with Jason Menkiti, an intern with the Open Targets data team

Helena Cornu

8 November 2023

Case study: NCI’s Molecular Targets Platform

Annalisa Buniello

31 October 2023

Case study: Extracting tidy data from Open Targets Genetics with Otargen

Helena Cornu

24 October 2023

Open Targets Platform 23.09 has been released!

Sir Target

21 September 2023

Welcome to new Director David Hulcoop

Helena Cornu

21 September 2023

From hibernation to neurodegeneration: how a cold-resistance protein is paving the way to dementia treatments

Helena Cornu

15 August 2023

Meet Yakov Tsepilov, our new Genetics team leader

Helena Cornu

7 August 2023

Open Targets Platform 23.06 has been released!

Sir Target

26 June 2023

Case study: Open Targets at your fingertips with Raycast

Helena Cornu, Irene López Santiago

20 June 2023

Case study: Querying the Open Targets Platform using natural language

Helena Cornu

25 May 2023

Code breaking and the Human Genome Project

Ian Dunham

25 April 2023

A leading scientist in the sequencing of the human genome, Ian Dunham reflects on the early years of the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

How Emmanouil Metzakopian is finding gene targets to treat neurodegeneration

Helena Cornu

5 April 2023

Manos Metzakopian discusses his latest research, in which the team validated KAT2B gene knockouts as neuroprotective against ER stress.