A Future To Feel Better About
Medicinal Chemistry
Next time you are feeling unwell and in need
perhaps of a painkiller, an indigestion tablet or
a spoonful of cough mixture, it is worth thinking
about whether you would enjoy the excitement
and challenge of making new medicines. Every
medicine we use is the end result of a long
process of research and development, typically
over a period of at least 12 years, by a team
of talented scientists in the pharmaceutical
industry. One key player in this team, who has
the challenge of turning good ideas into effective
medicines, is the medicinal chemist.
Medicinal chemistry involves
the identification, preparation,
design and development of
new chemical compounds
for therapeutic use. A
medicinal chemist synthesises
different compounds in the
laboratory and works with
biologists, toxicologists
and pharmacologists to try
and maximise the desired
medicinal effects. Each of these
compounds has the potential to
become a blockbuster medicine
that can improve the quality of
life for thousands of people.
To be a successful medicinal
chemist requires creativity; a
drive to succeed; expertise in
organic and analytical chemistry
(including excellent practical
skills); good interpersonal
skills; and the ability to work
effectively as part of a team
alongside scientists from other
disciplines. You will also need to
have the flexibility to work in a
dynamic environment because
the projects that you work on
will change as ideas for new
medicines are developed.
There is a wide array of
career opportunities for a
medicinal chemist in academia,
government institutions and
industry. The pharmaceutical
industry is one of the UKs
most successful industries and
a major employer. Industry
provides the opportunity to stay
in the laboratory environment
or to move into management.
Generally, pharmaceutical
companies require people
with research experience and
you can place yourself in a
very competitive position by
ensuring you have as much
chemical experience as
possible, particularly with a
strong background in medicinal
chemistry.
Where can I study?
A number of UK universities
offer undergraduate chemistry
degree courses that allow
students to specialise in
medicinal chemistry. A wide
range of 3-Year BSc or 4-Year
MChem or MSci programmes
are available, including
courses at University CollegeLondon (the first university to
offer such a programme), the
University of Reading, Keele
University and the University
of York. For students who
do not have the necessary
qualifications for direct
entry into a BSc or MChem
programme, Keele offers a
medicinal chemistry course
that incorporates a science
foundation year.
Students on such courses
take specialist modules in
medicinal chemistry. At York,
BSc or MChem students
can choose from a range of
optional modules – they can
learn about the chemistry
of biological systems, the
molecular basis of disease and
how to design medicines to
combat illness, including the
use of molecular modelling
(the department maintains one
of the best-equipped suites
of molecular graphics and
computing facilities in Europe).
Students do not choose
their optional modules for a
given year until the end of the
previous year, so they are able
to follow their interests as they
develop through the course.
Throughout the 3- or 4-year
programmes, students also
do a range of exercises, some
developed in collaboration
with industry, which are
designed to improve teamworking,
communication and
presentation skills.
In the final year of an MChem
or MSci degree, students carry
out a research project. This is
an opportunity to do a piece
of original work in a particular
area of chemistry, such as
medicinal chemistry. Typically,
you will get the opportunity
to work alongside students
studying towards a PhD
degree in a university research
laboratory. A student at York is free to choose a research
project with one of a number of
groups at York who specialise
in the design and synthesis of
new medicines. Alternatively,
students can choose to do a
medicinal chemistry project at
a university in Europe (Finland,
France, Germany, Italy or
Spain) or Singapore.
Some MChem or MSci degree
programmes offer students the
opportunity to do a research
project in an industrial
environment. As at Reading,
this usually takes place in
the third year. However, at
York, MChem students carry
out their research project in
Industry in Year 4. Companies
seem to appreciate the extra
maturity and the enhanced
background in chemistry
shown by Year 4 students.
Some 50 companies, including
all the large pharmaceutical
companies in the UK, plus a
number in Europe, support
this popular scheme. The
student undertakes a leadingedge
research project in their
chosen host company, over
a period of 12 months, with
the added bonus that the
company pays them a salary.
Inevitably, some companies
offer permanent employment
to graduates whom have
impressed them during
their fourth-year industrial
placement.
To see how some of the students evaluated the
undergraduate chemistry courses at York please visit
the student profiles page:
www.york.ac.uk/depts/chem/ugrad/whatouter.html
University College London
www.chem.ucl.ac.uk/admissions/chemmed.html
University of Reading
www.reading.ac.uk/Study/ug/
ChemistrywithMedicinalChemistryMChem.asp
Keele University
www.keele.ac.uk/undergraduate/prospectus/2006/medchem.htm
University of York
www.york.ac.uk/depts/chem/ugrad/coursebiomed.html
Article by: Dr Andrew Parsons,
Department of Chemistry, The University of York
Science / Engineering courses / colleges
