Drug Mechanism of Action Investigation

Investigation Philosophy

Drug mechanism research follows one core question chain:

Target -> Downstream Effect -> Pathway -> Organ Effect -> Clinical Outcome

Start with the drug's primary target. What receptor, enzyme, or transporter does it bind? Then trace forward: what does inhibiting/activating that target do immediately? What pathway is disrupted? What organ-level change results? What does the patient experience?

The LLM already knows drug pharmacology. This skill teaches HOW TO INVESTIGATE using available tools, not what mechanisms exist.

When to Use

• "What is the mechanism of action of [drug]?"
• "What are the molecular targets of [drug]?"
• "Which pathways are affected by [drug]?"
• "What pharmacogenomic interactions exist for [drug]?"
• "What are the off-targets of [drug]?"