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Novel drug inspired by a marine natural product offers new approach to treat pancreatic cancer
A UF College of Pharmacy researcher team led by Dr. Hendrik Luesch recently developed a novel molecule based on marine cyanobacteria, Apra S10, to target pancreatic cancer cells.
NIGMS awards Dr. Yousong Ding $1.7 million grant to advance natural product research
With the funding from the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award, Ding aims to access and expand chemical diversity of microbes through the use of new, innovative strategies.
Welcome to Dr. Lina Cui
Dr. Cui joins the Medicinal Chemistry department as an assistant professor. She was previously at the University of New Mexico and the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research explores the biochemical activities of carbohydrate processing enzymes involved in cancer progression and metastasis, thereby guiding the development of therapeutic and diagnostic molecules or tools for various types of cancers.
Dr. Rob Huigens secures $1.7 million NIH grant to support drug discovery program
Known as the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award, the grant will fund several of Huigens’ research projects, including efforts to develop compounds that will eliminate bacterial biofilm-associated infections.
UF College of Pharmacy researchers discover cost-effective way to produce ‘green’ bioherbicide
Organic farmers can use the natural chemicals to ward off weeds and conventional farmers can use them on weeds that grow resistant to traditional, synthetic herbicides.
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
Dr. Josh Brown receives NIH Loan Repayment Award and ambassador appointment
September 14, 2018
As a loan repayment awardee, Brown will receive financial support paying off his student debt, in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.
Opioid Awareness Discussion
September 13, 2018
Fast Facts | 2017-18 Academic Year
Seminar Series and Guest Speakers
Guest Speaker: Dr. Sandra Loesgen, 10/8
Dr. Loesgen is the Terence Brandshaw chemistry professor at Oregon State University. Her lecture is titled "Drug discovery with microbial natural products – from new gene activation techniques to anticancer leads."
Seminar Series: Fall 2018
Take a look at the scheduled seminar speakers and topics for the Fall ’18 semester.
Seminar Series: Spring 2018
Take a look at the scheduled seminar speakers and topics for the Spring ’18 semester.