About

The Center for Medicinal Chemistry Advisory Board comprises VIP representatives from each participating UCPH department, representatives from the industry in the greater Copenhagen area, and two from international organizations. All members serve for a fixed 1-2 year term. Members are:

Christian A. Olsen, Dept. of Drug Design and Pharm., SUND, KU

Knud J. Jensen, Dept. of Chemistry, SCIENCE, KU

Karen Martinez, Dept. of Chemistry, SCIENCE, KU

Morten Jørgensen, LeoPharma, Denmark

Paul Kilburn, H. Lundbeck, Denmark

Lars Linderoth, Novo Nordisk, Denmark

Garrick P. Smith, Amgen, Denmark

Lisbet Kvaerno, Hypha Discovery Ltd, UK

Anders Hoff, Danish Assoc. Pharm. Industry (LIF), DK

VISION statement

To be a leading European center for research and education in medicinal chemistry for the benefit of society and humanity.

MISSION statement

The Center for Medicinal Chemistry brings together scientists and students at UCPH in a dynamic, collaborative-oriented, integrated research and educational environment across the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, other academic institutions as well as the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. The Center promotes a working culture where the exploration of conceptual ideas goes hand-in-hand with innovation and attention to circularity and sustainability. In an international landscape, the Center pioneers new strategies and search for solutions to urgent medicinal chemistry challenges in society, and address fundamental questions with long-term perspectives. The Center works to strengthen the Medicon Valley region in an international setting.

Research

The Center for Medicinal Chemistry brings together a wide range of cross-disciplinary sciences, including organic chemistry, physical chemistry, structural biology, biophysics, computer and data science, radiopharmaceutical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, pharmacology, biochemistry, and medicine to challenge conventional thinking and move into new directions in order to bring forward new solutions to unmet medical needs.

The Center will:

• Design and synthesize new modalities (chemical and biological entities) and engage in close collaborations to uncover disease biology
• Discover and develop new techniques to advance medicinal chemistry research
• Strengthen research activities in the Greater Copenhagen Area and Medicon Valley

Education

The Center anchors the BSc and MSc programs in medicinal chemistry, which make up a vibrant educational environment wherein research activities are integrated early on in the studies. To create most value for society, the Center works for an open transfer policy amongst the educations in natural sciences at UCPH. As an example, the BSc in medicinal chemistry gives access to not only the education MSc in medicinal chemistry but also related and pertinent MSc studies.

At the PhD level, the Center initiates and coordinates scientific courses, which together make up a PhD program in medicinal chemistry. Furthermore, at the Assistant Professorship-level, a postgraduate program secures training for tenure positions in academia.

The center organizes teaching retreats to secure the constant focus on developing quality and value generating educational activities. Furthermore, and as an important keystone, the Center will facilitate the establishment of, and support, an independent Medicinal Chemistry Student Association.

The Center seeks out partner universities to form strong internationally oriented educations. Distinguishable academic institutions include members of League of European Research Universities (LERU) and members of European University Consortium for Pharmaceutical Sciences (ULLA). The pharmaceutical and biotech industries, as the major stakeholders for hiring of academic candidates, engage in mutually committed partnerships with the Center to secure high industrial relevance and practical experience in the educations.

Innovation and Society

The Center has a culture where the exploration of conceptual ideas goes hand-in-hand with innovative strategies and public outreach. A ‘Copenhagen School of Thinking’ on innovation with an emphasis on sustainability and circularity in medicinal chemistry research and production has been established.

The Center is as an infrastructure and communication hub for start-up companies and promotes innovative initiatives to accelerate and/or facilitate drug discovery processes.

Funding

Being a conglomerate of leading scientists from the natural sciences, the pharmaceutical sciences, and the medical sciences, the Center will be a natural and attractive platform for strategic research funding initiatives from private and public funding agencies.