What is Pharma-Transfer?
The Pharma-Transfer Internet database is unique in that it brings together previously unpublished pharmaceutical research information from all over the world. It is the most comprehensive global source of 'virgin' research information, which could conceivably form the basis for a programme of new drug development. Its scope ranges from very early stage, pre-patented discovery ideas right through to proof of concept at Phase IIa, allowing the system to encompass ideas and information from academia, private laboratories and biotechnology groups, as well as from the big pharma companies themselves. It is therefore an invaluable tool to support drug discovery pipelines in both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology spheres. From the researcher's point of view, it affords a global contact point for sources of funding and licensing agreements; in effect a kind of global supermarket for ideas. The Pharma-Transfer Internet database is only available by paid subscription. However we do offer limited access to guest users, see below under 'I am a Guest, How can I Use the Database?'.
How is the information provided?
The information is provided in concise abstracts, summarising drug development programmes and innovations within developing technologies from commercial and academic research groups worldwide. These are posted daily to the Internet database, which is fully equipped with the latest search technologies. They cover a wide range of ideas and projects in 24 therapeutic areas, solicited not just from the medical sciences but from right across the spectrum of biological science to encourage technology transfer. A good example being plant biology, studies on basic research into meiosis in a variety of plant and microbial systems could impact on something like Down's Syndrome research - ideas can emerge from the most unlikely sources.
It is important to realise that the process is proactive, not passive. Researchers are in effect being 'prompted' to act as heads of R&D of major pharmabiotech companies, with a brief to distil ideas for drug discovery from their own research, even when the connection may not seem particularly obvious at first sight. A myriad of latent ideas exists throughout the biological disciplines worldwide, thus a comprehensive sweep across all biological disciplines is essential.
How does the Internet site work?
Subscribers interrogate the site using powerful and comprehensive user-friendly search functions, these range from a simple search to refined searches enabling the use of many different criteria. Features include:
@ Fully firewalled and password protected site
@ Dedicated passwords and user names for all subscribers
@ Password security ensuring the integrity of the abstracts
@ Search options to suit the user, including search by date, patent status and establishment/researcher name, as well as by therapeutic terms and geographical area
@ Push technology enabling the database to e-mail relevant abstracts to each individual user based on their personal requirements. These requirements can be easily programmed into the database by the user
@ Abstracts uploaded daily
@ Guests to the site can gain limited access, in order to assess the quality and usefulness of the database
@ Intranet access for organisations requiring multiple subscriptions
How many abstracts are there?
We are currently adding approximately 1,200 new abstracts to the database every month. These are uploaded to the Internet site daily, which equates to about 50 abstracts every working day. This will continue to increase steadily throughout 2000/2001 and we aim to reach around 20,000 new abstracts per year. By December 2001 we anticipate that there will be in excess of 32,000 abstracts on the database.
I am a guest, how can I use the database?
As a guest you are allowed unlimited access to all areas of the Pharma-Transfer website, including full use of its comprehensive search capabilities. However, as a guest, you will only have access to a very limited number of 'free' abstracts - the abstracts contained on the Pharma-Transfer database are only available by subscription. As you use the search function to access your 'free' abstracts you will be able to ascertain Pharma-Transfer's particular use to you or your organisation, and assess the quality and presentation of the abstracts. Additionally, the Auto Search function is not available for use by guests.
Where do I start?
Obviously you can explore the site at your leisure but you may like to start by doing a simple search. Simply enter a keyword (for example blood) and press 'Search'. This will display the titles of all abstracts entered on the database over the last six months that contain that keyword. If you are a guest you will only be able to view a very small proportion of the actual abstracts in full. The search will clearly indicate which abstracts are available for guest viewing. Pharma-Transfer also has a powerful refined search, which allows you to search using many different criteria, before using this you may like to read the 'User's Guide'.
Multi-user access
Each username and password is available for one user only. However, if you would like multiple user access you have two options:
1. You may purchase access (with individual passwords and usernames) for any number of users. We offer favourable rates for multi-user access.
2. Alternatively we can offer a weekly information export service of structured data which you can then provide for local access on your intranet. These are offered in TRIP and XML formats.