This course is designed to provide participants with a lifecycle approach to developing and validating analytical methods, including some elements aligned with QbD concepts. By using a lifecycle approach, methods are more likely to meet their intended purpose, and scientists are more likely to have success during validation and transfer exercises. The course will build on traditional concepts of method development, validation and transfer by introducing the Analytical Target Profile (which identifies what the method is expected to accomplish), fostering method understanding (using QbD concepts to explore the method operable region and stressing the importance of real samples in the environment where they will be tested) and demonstrating how these principles can be used iteratively as methods change location or evolve technically.