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REVIEWS

Welcome to the Chemical Probes Portal, a free, public online resource of expert reviews and evaluations of chemical probes.

The Chemical Probes Portal supports the biological research community to select the best chemical tools such as inhibitors, activators and degraders, to use as chemical probes for their experiments. Its expert panel provides guidance to select the most suitable probe for use in in-vitro and in-vivo experiments and shares experiences in best practice.

What is the difference between a chemical probe and a drug? How should chemical probes be used?
Guidelines for what makes a good chemical probe and how to characterise probes for use in animals.
Data sources for the Chemical Probes Portal and the experts behind the reviews.
Oxford Hackathon

Oxford25 The latest Chemical Probes Hackathon, hosted at the University of Oxford, brought together 22 early-career researchers and 6 expert mentors for a day of hands-on exploration of GPCR and ion channel probes. Working in teams, participants completed 26 probe reviews using the Chemical Probes Portal, developing their skills in data interpretation, selectivity assessment, and probe quality evaluation.

10 On July 21, 2025, the Chemical Probes Portal celebrates 10 years since its launch, inspired by the 2015 Nature Chemical Biology paper by Arrowsmith et al. Now featuring 1,163 probes and over 1,600 expert reviews, the Portal empowers researchers with trusted tools and guidance. From classic inhibitors like JQ1 to PROTACs and molecular glues, it supports reproducible, high-impact science. A vital resource for chemical biology, the Portal continues to grow in reach and relevance.

he Chemical Probes Portal now covers 601 protein targets, enhancing resources for chemical biology and drug discovery. New additions include probes for DCTPP1, MASTL, and HCN1, expanding coverage in cancer, neurodegeneration, and targeted protein degradation. The Portal also flags 250+ unsuitable compounds, guiding researchers toward better alternatives. In alignment with Target 2035, it aims to provide a high-quality probe for every human protein by 2035.

Cite us:

  • The Chemical Probes Portal: an expert review-based public resource to empower chemical probe assessment, selection use, Antolin et al.Nucleic Acids Research 2022 gkac909. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkac909
  • Please add our URL to your publication: www.chemicalprobes.org.