As a homeowner and aspiring gardener, I have a strong desire to go the do-it-myself route for home repair and outdoor projects. The challenge is to know my limits—before I am dangling from a ladder or transplanting a tree. One factor in this decision is the difficulty in finding the best help for the job.

There is a connection between my adventures in home projects and the current state of drug research. Pipeline shortfalls, economic challenges, a lack of expertise, and tighter R&D budgets are just some of the forces that are driving drug and biotech companies to outsource core and non-core research functions. Doing-it-yourself is just not economically feasible—or smart—for many projects in drug research.

GBI Research projects that the contract research outsourcing market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13% during 2008-2015. As more drug companies are partnering with or signing on with contract research organizations (CROs), this important market segment demands more attention.

That is why we are introducing a new quarterly feature, the CRO Resource Guide. This special section of the magazine will highlight news and insight into the activities at CROs, as well as a comprehensive listing of capabilities in key functional areas. The print coverage will be supplemented with additional coverage on www.dddmag.com.

In this issue—starting on page 12—we profile CROs that offer analytical services. In June, we will focus on discovery and preclinical services.

What you see…
I have another hobby, photography. When I finally made the switch from a 35 mm SLR to a digital version, I was amazed at the versatility and range of the camera. Similarly, imaging techniques for drug research have improved significantly, as described in three articles in this issue.

In “Cell Culture Goes Hollywood”, Alan Dove explains advances in live-cell imaging. Integrated incubators and microscopes, as well as cameras, robots, and stages, are the emerging stars of these performances.

This month’s How It Works section features examinations for four technologies for live-animal imaging including an overview of applications for in vivo technologies; key factors for effective quantitative in vivo fluorescence imaging; tracking of tumor growth and treatment; and functional magnetic resonance imaging in awake animals for neurological studies.

Other challenges exist in the realm of chemical imaging. In “Ensuring Bead Uniformity”, Oksana Klueva of ChemImage Corporation explains the process of using wide-field raman chemical imaging to characterize controlled-release beads.

...What you get
Effective March 1, we increased the frequency of the Drug Discovery & Development e-newsletter from twice a week to daily. You can read more news, when it is new, directly in your inbox. This format also allows us to address more topics and more technologies. To sign up for the free newsletter, visit www.dddmag.com/enewsletters.aspx.

This article was published in Drug Discovery & Development magazine: Vol. 13, No. 2, March 2010, p. 4.