---
title: ChEMBL quickstart
description: Ask Ivy in chat for measured activity against a target — name a ChEMBL ID like CHEMBL203, an activity type like IC50 and a nM cutoff, then read the pChEMBL rows.
tags:
  - chembl
  - quickstart
---

You want to find compounds with measured activity against a target and see their potencies; this searches [ChEMBL](/docs/chembl) bioactivity data and returns a filtered hit table in a single query.

## ChEMBL Quickstart

Search ChEMBL for EGFR inhibitors with known bioactivity data.

## Via Chat

Type a natural-language query:

```
Search ChEMBL for EGFR inhibitors with IC50 < 100 nM
```

The AI selects the bioactivity search mode, uses CHEMBL203 (EGFR's ChEMBL ID), and applies the potency filter automatically.

## Be explicit when it matters

ChEMBL searches run when you ask Ivy in chat; there is no separate form or job for them. If you already know the target's ChEMBL ID, the activity type, or the cutoff you want, put them in the question:

```
Search ChEMBL bioactivity for target CHEMBL203, IC50 only, below 100 nM
```

## Interpret Results

Results appear as a data table on the canvas showing:

- Compound SMILES and ChEMBL IDs
- Activity values (IC50 in nM) and pChEMBL value
- Assay type and assay description
- Target name and organism

## Next Steps

- **Screen for drug-likeness**: Select hits and run ADMETLab3 or ADMET-AI
- **Dock top compounds**: Send SMILES to DiffDock with an EGFR structure (PDB 1M17)
- **Generate a compound passport**: Create a full profile for your best hit
- **Find analogs**: Use a hit's SMILES for a similarity search to expand the hit series

## Read next