Medicinal chemistry is a chemistry-based discipline, also involving aspects of biological and pharmaceutical sciences. As defined, it is concerned with the invention, discovery, design, identification and preparation of biologically active compounds, the study of their metabolism, the interpretation of their mode of action at the molecular level and the construction of structure activity relationships.

Our outstanding division has the best to offer in research opportunities and graduate education. Funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has allowed for the creation of a multi-million dollar Laboratory for Applied Drug Design and Synthesis (LADDS). Our faculty are actively engaged in research for the discovery and development of new drugs and are exploiting new biological targets for the treatment of cancer, malaria, CNS disorders, and infectious diseases.

We blend conventional disciplines to allow for specialized research to be conducted in asymmetric organic synthesis, computational drug design, automated high-throughput synthesis and analysis, and biological evaluation and assay development. Our mission is to continue to produce highly-trained graduates for careers in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, preparing students to be the next generation of leaders in academia and industry.