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                                                                   Exhibit 10.30

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                      FIRST AMENDMENT TO RESEARCH AGREEMENT

     FIRST AMENDMENT TO RESEARCH AGREEMENT (this "AMENDMENT"), dated as of
December 15, 2005, by and between CombinatoRx, Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and CHDI, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the
"FOUNDATION"). The Company and the Foundation shall hereinafter be referred to
individually as a "PARTY" and collectively as the "PARTIES".

     WHEREAS, the Research Institution and the Foundation entered into that
certain Research Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2005 (such agreement as
amended shall hereinafter be referred to as the "AGREEMENT").

     WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have
the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

     WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend, modify and supplement the
Agreement as provided herein.

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties
and covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby
agree as follows:

1.   AMENDMENTS, MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT.

     (a)  Section 3 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section
          in its entirety and replacing it with the text attached hereto as
          EXHIBIT 1.

     (b)  Appendix C of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such
          appendix in its entirety and replacing it with the "Appendix C"
          attached hereto as EXHIBIT 2.

2.   SINGLE AGREEMENT; INCONSISTENT TERMS. This Amendment is hereby annexed to
     and forms a part of the Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency
     between the provisions of this Amendment and those contained in the
     Agreement to which this Amendment is annexed, the provisions of this
     Amendment shall govern and be binding.

3.   RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT. The Agreement is hereby ratified by the
     parties hereto, and the terms and provisions of the Agreement as amended,
     modified and supplemented by this Amendment shall remain in full force and
     effect.

                                    * * * * *

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     In witness to the foregoing, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of
the date first written above.

RESEARCH INSTITUTION:

CombinatoRx, Incorporated

By:
   --------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:


FOUNDATION:


CHDI, Inc.

By:
   --------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:

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                                    EXHIBIT 1

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3.   OBLIGATION TO MAKE PAYMENTS AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE; QUARTERLY FTE NOTICES;
     REVIEW OF QUARTERLY FTE NOTICE; CALCULATION OF ACTUAL QUARTERLY FTE COST;
     QUARTERLY PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.

     (a)  OBLIGATION TO MAKE PAYMENTS AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE.

          (i)    OBLIGATION TO MAKE PAYMENTS. The Foundation shall make payments
                 to the Company for the Research Project as provided in, and
                 subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement. The
                 Company acknowledges and agrees that the Foundation shall not
                 be required to make any payment to the Company in respect of
                 any Phase of the Research Project for which each of the
                 Scientific Milestones has not been satisfied or achieved.

          (ii)   PAYMENT SCHEDULE. The amount of each quarterly payment (the
                 "QUARTERLY PAYMENTS") and milestone payment (the "MILESTONE
                 PAYMENTS" and, together with the Quarterly Payments, the
                 "PAYMENTS") are set forth on the payment schedule (the "PAYMENT
                 SCHEDULE") attached hereto as APPENDIX D.

     (b)  QUARTERLY FTE NOTICES.

          (i)    DELIVERY OF THE QUARTERLY FTE NOTICES. The Company shall
                 deliver a written notice (each, a "QUARTERLY FTE NOTICE") to
                 the Foundation promptly following the end of each 90-day period
                 (each, a "QUARTERLY FTE NOTICE PERIOD") during the period
                 beginning on the Effective Date and continuing through the
                 Quarterly FTE Notice Period following the last scheduled
                 Quarterly Payment made by the Foundation under the terms of
                 this Agreement.

          (ii)   REQUIRED INFORMATION IN EACH QUARTERLY FTE NOTICE. Each
                 Quarterly FTE Notice shall be given in respect of the most
                 recently ended Quarterly FTE Notice Period (the "CURRENT NOTICE
                 PERIOD") and shall:

                 (A)  set forth the Quarterly Payment number and the year and
                      quarter of the Research Project (in each case, as set
                      forth in APPENDIX D) covered by the Current Notice Period;

                 (B)  identify each Phase of the Research Project (each, an
                      "APPROVED ACTIVE PHASE") for which each of the Scientific
                      Milestones required to proceed to conduct or perform such
                      Phase of the Research Project has been satisfied or
                      achieved;

                 (C)  with respect to each Approved Active Phase, set forth the
                      number of FTEs budgeted to devote time to such Approved

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                      Active Phase during the Current Notice Period as set forth
                      in APPENDIX B (the "CURRENT NOTICE PERIOD BUDGETED FTEs");

                 (D)  with respect to each Approved Active Phase, set forth (1)
                      the name and title of each individual who actually devoted
                      time to such Approved Active Phase during the Current
                      Notice Period and (2) the number of FTEs that actually
                      devoted time to such Approved Active Phase during the
                      Current Notice Period (the "CURRENT NOTICE PERIOD ACTUAL
                      FTEs") (such amount to be calculated by dividing the
                      number of weeks (or pro rata portion thereof) such
                      individual actually devoted one-hundred percent of his or
                      her effort to such Approved Active Phase during the
                      Current Notice Period by the number 13);

                 (E)  with respect to each Approved Active Phase, set forth the
                      positive difference, if any, between (1) the aggregate
                      number of FTEs budgeted to devote time to such Approved
                      Active Phase during all previous Quarterly FTE Notice
                      Periods as set forth in APPENDIX B MINUS (2) the aggregate
                      number of FTEs that actually devoted one-hundred percent
                      of such aggregate FTE's effort to such Approved Active
                      Phase as set forth in all prior Quarterly FTE Notices
                      delivered by the Company and approved by the Foundation in
                      accordance with this SECTION 3 (such difference
                      hereinafter referred to as the "CURRENT NOTICE PERIOD
                      CARRYOVER BUDGETED FTEs BEGINNING BALANCE");

                 (F)  with respect to each Approved Active Phase, set forth the
                      sum of (1) the Current Notice Period Budgeted FTEs PLUS
                      (2) the Current Notice Period Carryover Budgeted FTEs
                      Beginning Balance (such sun hereinafter referred to as the
                      "CURRENT NOTICE PERIOD TOTAL AVAILABLE BUDGETED FTEs");

                 (G)  with respect to each Approved Active Phase, set forth the
                      positive difference, if any, between (1) the Current
                      Notice Period Total Available Budgeted FTEs MINUS (2) the
                      Current Notice Period Actual FTEs (such difference
                      hereinafter referred to as the "CURRENT NOTICE PERIOD
                      CARRYOVER BUDGETED FTEs ENDING BALANCE");

                 (H)  include a certification by the Company that all of the
                      information provided in such Quarterly FTE Notice is true,
                      complete and correct.

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     (c)  REVIEW OF QUARTERLY FTE NOTICE; ACTUAL QUARTERLY FTE COST; QUARTERLY
          PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.

          (i)    REVIEW OF QUARTERLY FTE NOTICE. Beginning on the date of the
                 receipt of a Quarterly FTE Notice in respect of a Current
                 Notice Period, the Foundation shall have a period (the
                 "QUARTERLY PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT REVIEW PERIOD") of 20 days to (A)
                 review such Quarterly FTE Notice and (B) request such
                 additional information from the Company as may be reasonably
                 required by the Foundation to verify the information set forth
                 in such Quarterly FTE Notice.

          (ii)   ACTUAL QUARTERLY FTE COST. Within 10 days of the expiration of
                 the Quarterly Payment Adjustment Review Period, the Foundation
                 shall calculate the cost (the "ACTUAL QUARTERLY FTE COST") of
                 (A) the budgeted management FTE set forth in APPENDIX B for
                 such Current Notice Period and (B) the Current Notice Period
                 Actual FTEs for each Approved Active Phase for such Current
                 Notice Period; provided, however, the amount of Current Notice
                 Period Actual FTEs used in any such calculation shall not
                 exceed the Current Notice Period Total Available Budgeted FTEs
                 for each Approved Active Phase for such Current Notice Period.
                 For purposes of this Agreement, all calculations shall be made
                 using a FTE rate of $250,000 per year other than FTEs allocated
                 to Phase 2 for which a FTE rate of $275,000 shall be used.

          (iii)  QUARTERLY PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.

                 (A)  QUARTERLY PAYMENT CREDIT AMOUNT; AGGREGATE QUARTERLY
                      PAYMENT HOLDBACK AMOUNT. If the Actual Quarterly FTE Cost
                      for such Current Notice Period is less than the Quarterly
                      Payment made by the Foundation in respect of such Current
                      Notice Period, either (1) the Foundation shall credit an
                      amount (each, a "CURRENT NOTICE PERIOD QUARTERLY PAYMENT
                      CREDIT AMOUNT") equal to the difference between the
                      Quarterly Payment made by the Foundation in respect of
                      such Current Notice Period MINUS the Actual Quarterly FTE
                      Cost for such Current Notice Period against any future
                      payments required to be made by the Foundation to the
                      Company under this Agreement or (2) upon the written
                      request of the Foundation, the Company shall pay an amount
                      (each, a "CURRENT NOTICE PERIOD QUARTERLY PAYMENT REFUND
                      AMOUNT") equal to the difference between the Quarterly
                      Payment made by the Foundation in respect of such Current
                      Notice Period MINUS the Actual Quarterly FTE Cost for such
                      Current Notice Period to the Foundation within 30 days of
                      the receipt of any such written request.

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                      For purposes of this Agreement, the aggregate of all
                      Current Notice Period Quarterly Payment Credit Amounts and
                      Current Notice Period Quarterly Payment Refund Amounts
                      LESS the aggregate of all Quarterly Payment Increase
                      Amounts (as defined in SECTION 3(c)(iii)(B) of this
                      Agreement) paid by the Foundation to the Company pursuant
                      to SECTION 3(c)(iii)(B) of this Agreement shall be
                      referred to as the "AGGREGATE QUARTERLY PAYMENT HOLDBACK
                      AMOUNT".

                 (B)  QUARTERLY PAYMENT INCREASE AMOUNT. If (1) the Actual
                      Quarterly FTE Cost for such Current Notice Period is
                      greater than the Quarterly Payment made by the Foundation
                      in respect of such Current Notice Period and (2) the
                      Aggregate Quarterly Payment Holdback Amount is greater
                      than zero, the Foundation shall increase the amount of the
                      next scheduled Quarterly Payment by an amount (each, a
                      "QUARTERLY PAYMENT INCREASE AMOUNT") equal to the lesser
                      of (a) the difference between the Actual Quarterly FTE
                      Cost for such Current Notice Period MINUS the Quarterly
                      Payment made by the Foundation in respect of such Current
                      Notice Period and (b) the then outstanding Aggregate
                      Quarterly Payment Holdback Amount.

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                                    EXHIBIT 2

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                        APPENDIX C TO RESEARCH AGREEMENT

                             (SCIENTIFIC MILESTONES)

RESEARCH PROJECT - SCIENTIFIC MILESTONES

<Table>
<Caption>
RESEARCH PROJECT PHASE                                        CONDITION(S) TO BEGIN CONDUCT OF PHASE
------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>
Phase 1 through Phase 5                           Execution of this Agreement by the Parties.

                                                  The Research Committee has made each decision and granted each
                                                  approval expressly set forth in this Agreement that is
                                                  specifically required or otherwise necessary to begin the
                                                  conduct of any specific Phase of the Research Project.

Phase 1A                                          Execution of this Agreement by the Parties.

Phase 1B - Part 1                                 Execution of this Agreement by the Parties.

Phase 1B - Part 2                                 The Research Committee has approved at least one cell line for
                                                  use as the parental cell line for the generation of the TRex
                                                  Flp-In neuroblastoma cell line by Invitrogen within six months
                                                  of the Effective Date.

                                                  The Foundation and Invitrogen have executed the Invitrogen
                                                  Agreement within six months of the Effective Date.

                                                  Invitrogen has delivered the TRex Flp-In neuroblastoma cell
Phase 1B - Part 3                                 line to the Company within 12 months of the execution of the
                                                  Invitrogen Agreement.

Phase 1C                                          Execution of this Agreement by the Parties.

Phase 2 and 3 - Use of Assay 1 for Screening      Complete optimization of Assay 1 within four months following
                                                  the date the Company has taken delivery of the cell line
                                                  approved by the Research Committee for use in the optimization
                                                  of Assay 1.

                                                  Assay 1 meets each of the specifications set forth in
                                                  APPENDIX A and is approved by the Research Committee for use in
                                                  Phase 2 and 3.

Phase 2 and 3 - Use of Assay 2 for Screening      Complete development and optimization of Assay 2 within five
                                                  months following the delivery of the TRex Flp-In
                                                  neuroblastoma cell line to the Company.

                                                  Assay 2 meets each of the specifications set forth in
                                                  APPENDIX A and is approved by the Research Committee for use in
                                                  Phase 2 and 3.
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<S>                                               <C>
Phase 2 and 3 - Use of Assay 3 for Screening      Complete development and optimization of Assay 3 within nine
                                                  months following the date cell lines and htt specific
                                                  antibodies approved by the Research Committee for use in the
                                                  development and optimization of Assay 3 are acquired by, or
                                                  on behalf of, the Company.

                                                  Assay 3 meets each of the specifications set forth in
                                                  APPENDIX A and is approved by the Research Committee for use in
                                                  Phase 2 and 3.

Phase 2A                                          The Company has (a) selected at least 1,300 Company
                                                  Library Compounds within one month of the approval by the
                                                  Research Committee of any of the Assays for use in Phase 2
                                                  and 3 and (b) acquired each Foundation Selected Compound
                                                  within one month of the selection of such compounds by the
                                                  Foundation.

Phase 2B                                          The screening required by Phase 2A has been completed within 26
                                                  months of the Effective Date.

                                                  The combination screening strategy for Phase 2B is approved by the
                                                  Research Committee.

Phase 3                                           The Research Committee approves at least one Phase 3
                                                  Approved Compound Combination.

Phase 4                                           The Research Committee approves at least one Phase 4
                                                  Approved Compound Combination.

Phase 5                                           The Foundation approves at least one Phase 5 Approved
                                                  Compound Combination.
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