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UF Pharmacy researchers discover new method to harvest ‘green’ sunscreen ingredient
The researchers found a more efficient way to harvest the UV-absorbing amino acid known as shinorine, which marine organisms like cyanobacteria and macroalgae produce.
Dr. Hendrik Luesch appointed to Natural Product Reports’ editorial board
Natural Product Reports is the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal for publication of reviews in all areas of natural products chemistry, including biosynthesis, chemical biology, pharmacology and organic synthesis.
Dr. Hendrik Luesch featured in Go Greater campaign video
Luesch’s marine drug discovery research is highlighted in the video supporting UF’s $3 billion fundraising campaign.
Dr. Chris McCurdy installed as 2018 AAPS president
Medicinal chemistry professor Christopher McCurdy, Ph.D., was installed as the 2018 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, or AAPS, president at the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 12-15 in San Diego.
UF Pharmacy faculty featured in CNN report on kratom and the opioid crisis
Christopher McCurdy, Ph.D., a professor of medicinal chemistry, was featured in a CNN.com report on kratom, an herb, and its potential to treat pain and opioid withdrawal.
Welcome to the Department of Medicinal Chemistry
The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is located in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and is an integral part of UF Health. The strategic location within the Health Science Center facilitates interdisciplinary collaborations and close interactions with clinicians, which catalyzes the translation from bench to bedside.
Our faculty teach in both Pharm.D. and the departmental Ph.D. program. Several faculty are also teaching in our online MS Pharmacy program. Our graduate students get exposed to the entire life cycle of a drug by participating in college-wide activities and receive outstanding in-depth training in early-stage drug discovery and modern medicinal chemistry.
The department has excellent facilities dedicated to major areas of medicinal chemistry research, and our faculty have been highly successful in attracting extramural research support. UF’s Preeminence initiative in drug discovery and development has supported an expansion of the department in focus research areas such as natural products and structure-based drug design and invested in major therapeutic areas, including cancer, anti-infectives, drug abuse and pain research.
Our impressive natural products inspired program encompasses the entire spectrum of multidisciplinary research from genomes to drugs, including genome mining, biosynthetic engineering, chemical synthesis and biological profiling of natural products and natural product-like compounds, leading to the corresponding in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, mechanistic studies, and preclinical evaluation of drug candidates. Several such lead compounds have been licensed by pharmaceutical companies.
With many more small-molecule lead compounds emerging from our medicinal chemistry campaigns, utilizing target-based, phenotypic or virtual screens as well as genome scanning as starting points, our research platform provides exciting opportunities to both our current and future graduate students.
Hendrik Luesch, Ph.D.
Debbie and Sylvia DeSantis Chair in Natural Products Drug Discovery and Development | Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry
College of Pharmacy News
Jacksonville student Kelsey Ohman named recipient of the 2018 James B. and Patsey Powers Scholarship
April 18, 2018
The scholarship recognizes and celebrates Ohman’s demonstration of outstanding academic achievement, contributions to the community through volunteer work and participation in professional and...
UF College of Pharmacy retains No. 1 national ranking with 130 residency matches
April 17, 2018
UF pharmacy graduates matched at hospitals and health care facilities in 19 states.
Fast Facts: UF Medicinal Chemistry
Seminar Series and Guest Speakers
Seminar Series: Spring 2018
Take a look at the scheduled seminar speakers and topics for the Spring ’18 semester.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Rolf Müller, 1/25
Dr. Müller is the Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in Germany where he also leads the Department of Microbial Natural Products. His lecture is titled, "Basic microbiology, chemistry and synthetic biotechnology to identify and characterize antibiotics from microbes."
Guest Speaker: Dr. Anita Mattson, 1/4
Dr. Mattson is the associate department head and graduate program coordinator at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Her lecture is titled, "Complex Bioactive Target Construction with Non-Convalent Catalysis."