Forster Discovery is led by Dr. Francis Forster, a medicinal and synthetic chemist with experience spanning targeted protein degradation, oncology and CNS drug discovery, route development, CRO leadership, computational drug design and independent academic research.
Led design and prioritisation of small molecules for targeted protein degradation programmes across oncology and CNS, integrating SAR/SKR, multiparameter optimisation, structure-guided design, synthetic feasibility and ADME/DMPK. Directed chemistry across global CRO partners, typically 2–8 external FTE, and used docking, pose analysis, pharmacophore modelling and virtual screening to support compound decisions.
Delivered advanced contract-synthesis projects, planning and executing multistep and library synthesis, troubleshooting challenging routes, performing structural analysis and managing project delivery and laboratory activities.
Conceived and wrote a successful DFG-funded research proposal on photoredox-catalysed remote C(sp³)–H trifluoromethylation and conducted photoredox / singlet-fission research, structural analysis and scientific communication.
Developed cooperative bond-activation chemistry and catalytic methods using mechanistic NMR, crystallography and reaction development; conceived Sn–H activation chemistry and developed Al–H activation into a reliable catalytic system.
Three-month medicinal-chemistry research internship in metabolic-disease drug discovery.
Kept at a level that is already public through patents, presentations or the CV.
Molecular-glue and degrader series across oncology and CNS, including iterative compound design, synthesis proposals, assay-cascade prioritisation and compound progression.
Selected by Proxygen to present the discovery and development of PXG-CycK, an orally available Cyclin K molecular-glue degrader, at EFMC-ASMC 2025.
Co-designed a focused p300 degrader screening library and later advised on synthesis and compound progression.
Advanced multistep and library synthesis, route troubleshooting, synthetic-feasibility assessment and process-oriented chemistry in CRO and drug-discovery settings.
Protein-structure selection and preparation, docking, pose / interaction analysis, pharmacophore modelling, virtual screening and RDKit / Python workflows.
Selection and interpretation of ADME/DMPK and in vivo PK studies, including exposure, PK/PD, efficacy and CNS / brain-exposure considerations.
Targeted-protein-degradation drug discovery spanning medicinal chemistry, virtual screening, compound and synthesis design, CRO coordination and study prioritisation.
Forster Discovery provides independent consultancy through focused scientific reviews, project mandates, fractional chemistry leadership and technical diligence.