Research

The Department of Molecular Drug Research encompasses a range of innovative research projects directed towards discovery, design and development of model compounds and new potential drugs, discovery and characterization of novel macromolecular targets, and studies of their interactions at the molecular and cellular level. It is also engaged in the development of the underlying research methods and technologies.

Medicinal chemistry and Structure-based drug research is a strategic research area at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the focus of research activities at the department.

Major research activities are:

• Natural products-based discovery and characterization of new chemical entities as potential new drugs.
• Discovery and characterization of novel macromolecular drug targets.
• Medicinal chemistry research towards development of potential drugs and structure-based design.

The department has several research programs integrating organic synthesis, natural products research, computational chemistry, molecular modelling, molecular pharmacology, recombinant protein technologies and protein crystallography, with innovative work in areas where traditional scientific disciplines intersect and across the boundaries of the organization of the department.

Major research groups are: