Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: In Vitro Studies • Compound Library • Formulation Development

Target Validation

Term from Pharmaceutical Research industry explained for recruiters

Target Validation is an essential early step in drug development where scientists confirm that a specific protein or gene (called a 'target') is actually involved in a disease and could be useful for creating new medicines. Think of it like verifying you have the right key (the target) before trying to unlock a door (treating the disease). This work happens before companies invest large amounts of money in developing new drugs. Scientists use various methods to prove that affecting this target could help treat the disease, similar to testing different keys to make sure they fit the lock before making copies.

Examples in Resumes

Led Target Validation studies for potential cancer drug candidates

Conducted Target Validation experiments using cell culture and animal models

Successfully completed Target Validation research that led to two drug development programs

Typical job title: "Target Validation Scientists"

Also try searching for:

Drug Discovery Scientist Molecular Biologist Research Scientist Preclinical Researcher Drug Development Scientist Translational Research Scientist Discovery Biology Researcher

Where to Find Target Validation Scientists

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you design a target validation strategy for a new disease target?

Expected Answer: A senior scientist should explain the process of gathering multiple lines of evidence, including genetic data, animal studies, and clinical observations. They should mention risk assessment and resource planning.

Q: Tell me about a time when target validation results were unexpected. How did you handle it?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate problem-solving abilities, explain how they investigated unexpected results, and show how they made strategic decisions based on data.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What methods do you use to validate a drug target?

Expected Answer: Should describe common techniques like genetic modification, antibodies, and chemical tools, showing understanding of when to use each approach.

Q: How do you determine if a target validation study is successful?

Expected Answer: Should explain key success criteria, including reproducibility of results, statistical significance, and relevance to human disease.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the purpose of target validation in drug discovery?

Expected Answer: Should explain that it confirms whether a particular target is worth pursuing for drug development and helps reduce risks of failure later.

Q: What basic laboratory techniques are important for target validation?

Expected Answer: Should mention common techniques like cell culture, protein analysis, and basic molecular biology methods used in validation studies.