MS, PhD Medicinal Chemistry
Boston
Medicinal chemistry is concerned with the study of those structural, stereochemical, and physical parameters which affect the biological interaction of synthetic and naturally occurring drugs at the molecular level.
These advanced degrees in medicinal chemistry provide a student with a thorough knowledge of the behavior of chemical substances at the molecular level. Medicinal chemists study the composition of molecules and their interactions in both a chemical and a physical sense, with the aim of predicting the behavior and properties of new substances. They work in the frontier areas of biologically-related scientific research conducted in industrial, governmental and academic laboratories. The work of developing new drugs to treat diseases begins with the medicinal chemist.
Research is directed towards a fuller understanding of the pharmacological actions of such substances leading to improved drug design. Specialization in this program requires a broad knowledge of organic and heterocyclic chemistry, pharmacy, spectroscopic instrumentation, and pharmacology. Ongoing research programs include the synthesis and evaluation of antiviral and anticancer drugs; the synthesis of new laser dyes; and the isolation and characterization of natural products from plants.
Minor in drug metabolism
Students may elect to complete a minor concentration in drug metabolism, integrating the knowledge of drug metabolism, analysis of pharmaceuticals in biological fluids and incubation mixtures, enzyme kinetics, and animal care and use.