Lawrence-based Deciphera Pharmaceuticals has reached a deal with a Chicago research company to help Deciphera prepare drugs for clinical trials by 2005.

Deciphera officials said deCode Genetics has agreed to help the Lawrence start-up company study possible uses for its drug technology, which possibly could be used to treat diabetes, melanomas, Alzheimer’s disease and certain forms of leukemia.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The research agreement, though, was part of a previously announced round of funding which totaled $1.5 million, that included money from the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp. and a private venture capital fund.

Deciphera moved in February to Lawrence from Cambridge, Mass., after Daniel Flynn, a Kansas University graduate and pharmaceutical executive, began talking with officials at KU’s School of Pharmacy about his research.

Flynn has said he expected the company, which has offices at the former Oread Labs campus at 15th Street and Wakarusa Drive, would employ about 35 people in the next three years.