As one of the top-rated programs in the country, the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (MCMP) is unique as compared to our peers because it combines both medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology integrated within a single academic unit. This arrangement promotes a seamless dialogue between chemical and biological approaches, which is essential for translating basic discoveries into novel therapeutics. We offer extensive curricular flexibility and a diverse range of training options in molecular mechanisms of drug action; target discovery and validation; and drug design and synthesis.
The scientific approaches taken by students and faculty in MCMP include medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, cell and molecular biology, molecular pharmacology, biophysical and computational chemistry, systems biology, functional and pharmacogenomics. Research topics covered in MCMP can be broadly grouped in three general areas: cancer biology, neuroscience, and infectious diseases. These activities are well aligned with national priorities as exemplified by the brain initiative, the cancer moon shot initiative, and the national action plan to combat antibiotic resistance. Locally, our research efforts are fully symbiotic with Purdue University's existing strengths in physical sciences, engineering, cancer research, drug discovery, and life sciences. Our faculty are fully integrated into the NCI-designated Purdue Center for Cancer Research, the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, the Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease.