ELRIG Drug Discovery 2026

Drug Discovery 2026 is the flagship conference of ELRIG, the not-for-profit European Laboratory Research & Innovation Group. This edition marks 20 years of ELRIG Drug Discovery and returns to ExCeL London for two days of parallel scientific tracks, keynotes looking back and ahead, and a large exhibition of product and service suppliers. Content partners include SLAS, Cancer Research UK, the Microbiology Society, the British Neuroscience Association and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Day 1 tracks (Wednesday 14 October)

Seven parallel tracks across four auditoria and three theatres.

• Engineering the cell microenvironment: cell-based models for drug discovery
• Integrating experimental design, lab-in-the-loop and AI towards translatable discovery
• Targeted potency: advances in radioligands and bioconjugates
• Next-Gen biophysics
• Translating ideas into therapies: navigating the challenges
• CRISPR/Cas technologies from discovery to therapeutic application
• Innovation in action (Breakthrough Zone Theatre)

Day 2 tracks (Thursday 15 October)

The second day moves from data and imaging to translation and commercialisation.

• From multi-omics to clinical outcomes
• The power of imaging in drug discovery and the clinic
• AI in medicinal chemistry (with the Royal Society of Chemistry)
• From sample to translation: practical challenges of modern drug discovery (with SLAS)
• Inclusive translational approaches in neuroscience drug development
• From microbes to medicines
• Bridging the gap between discovery and commercialisation

Exhibition and activities

The exhibition hall hosts leading suppliers, the ELRIG Hub and a Breakthrough Zone for young companies, whose participants can pitch on the main stage. New for 2026 are a Consultancy Café and a Coaching Corner for one-to-one conversations (pre-booked passes at £150 for providers). A Mini-DD pre-conference networking event for early career researchers takes place on Tuesday 13 October at ExCeL, plus poster sessions and awards.

Tickets & passes

• Delegate registration — Free: Free; registration now closed (capacity reached)