The changing landscape of drug discovery and the pharmaceutical industry has created a need for scientists with interdisciplinary training to navigate the continuously evolving fields of medicinal chemistry, biotherapeutics, pharmaco-genetics/genomics, and pharmacology/toxicology.

To answer the call, the UI College of Pharmacy recently launched a new program referred to as Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics. This subprogram was created by merging the college’s former graduate concentration areas of clinical pharmaceutical sciences and medicinal and natural products chemistry.

The previous concentration areas served a purpose and demonstrated historic strengths. Yet the change represents a tremendous opportunity for students with interests in the development of novel therapeutics and is predicted to enhance training and success. In addition, the new name reflects how the research areas of college faculty have evolved and changed over the years.  

The Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics program provides students with coursework that helps build a strong foundation for high-demand careers in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology companies, regulatory agencies, and government.

Faculty in the program – and, by extension, students – focus their research on developing synthetic methodologies to construct anti-infective, anti-cancer, and anti-viral agents. They also emphasize drug metabolism and carcinogenesis, chemical toxicology, and neurochemistry.

“I’m really looking forward to the rollout of the new graduate program, which is timely and represents a tremendous training opportunity for students. In addition, the merger brings together two dynamic groups of faculty, creating synergy likely to catalyze student training and research success."

Jonathan Doorn, department chair and professor, explained his specific role with the merge was to get input and consent of all faculty and college administration, write the proposal, and meet with the Graduate Council and Graduate College dean to get sign-off.

“I am fortunate to have collaboration with the Office of Research and Graduate Education in the College of Pharmacy, which provided a tremendous level of support,” Doorn said. “This could not have happened without their help.”

The merge was a relatively straightforward transition, he added, especially because the faculty and curriculum were already in place. 

The new Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics program offers an updated focus on what the industry is seeking in terms of prepared scientists and training, plus knowledge that will better prepare students for drug discovery in the modern era. This key component of the program makes it stand out from the previous two concentration areas.

“I’m really looking forward to the rollout of the new graduate program, which is timely and represents a tremendous training opportunity for students. In addition, the merger brings together two dynamic groups of faculty, creating synergy likely to catalyze student training and research success," said Doorn.