News from the Societies
Janssen Research & Development Prize for Medicinal Chemistry
To Thomas Verbrugghen, PharmD, PhD, for his PhD thesis entitled “Synthesis of 1-deoxy-d‑xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) inhibitors as antimalarials” (Ghent University, promotor prof. Serge Van Calenbergh)
The Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV, division of Medicinal and Bioorganic Chemistry) awarded for the 14th time a prize for a young PhD researcher who performed promising research at a Flemish University in the domain of medicinal chemistry. Candidates needed to have obtained their PhD between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2013.
A jury consisting of Prof. K. Augustyns (UA, Chair), Prof. S. Ballet (VUB), Prof. P. Herdewijn (KULeuven), Prof. S. Van Calenbergh (UGent) en Dr. Guy Van Lommen (Galapagos) has chosen Thomas Verbrugghen as the prize winner.
Short Curriculum Vitae Thomas Verbrugghen, PharmD, PhD
Thomas Verbrugghen graduated as a pharmacist at Ghent University and obtained a PhD in medicinal chemistry in 2012 at the same institution, under the supervision of prof. Serge Van Calenbergh. Currently he is a postdoctoral researcher at the Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp (MICA, University of Antwerp) and is involved in the development of novel oncological radiotracers and chemotherapeutics.
 Short summary of the PhD research
The development of novel inhibitors of the non-mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis as antimalarials is described. Based on the lead structure fosmidomycin, a small molecular antibiotic, several strategies were applied in order to increase its inhibitory potency. This gave rise to three kinds of products: alpha-halogenated analogues, a conformationally restricted fosmidomycin and a series of alpha-heteroatom derivatized molecules. Both alpha-fluoro and alpha-azido analogues showed promising in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activities. Alpha-fluoro-fosmidomycin was further converted into two prodrug forms with an even higher potency.
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The Danish Society of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry (DSFTM)
Predictive modeling of drug and chemical efficacy and toxicity’
Network & pathway analysis; Drug signatures; Pattern recognition at all levels
DSFTM Annual Meeting
Friday June 20th, 2014
Lundbeck auditoriet, BRIC
University of Copenhagen
Ole Maaloes Vej 5
2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
Confirmed speakers:
Richard Judson, US-EPA, Head at the National Center for Computational Toxicology
Prof. Søren Brunak, DTU System Biology
Ass. Prof. Svava Jonsdottir, DTU Food
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Spring Meeting of The Section Medicinal Chemistry, Royal Netherlands Chemical Society (KNCV)
Computers for Medicinal Chemistry: Applying Nobel Prize Science to Drug Discovery?
March 28, 2014
Utrecht, the Netherlands
http://www.kncv.nl/fc-2014
The 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three computational chemists, who integrated Newton’s classical physics with quantum physics to simulate chemistry behavior. The committee concluded: “Today, the computer is just as important a tool for chemists as the test tube. Simulations are so realistic that they predict the outcome of traditional experiments.” Some may question this statement, whereas others even doubt the actual value of computer methods completely. So, it’s about time to discuss computer-aided medicinal chemistry during a one-day symposium organized by the Section of Medicinal Chemistry of the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society.
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The Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Sector (BMCS) of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
7th RSC BMCS Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Postgraduate Symposium
The latest BMCS postgraduate symposium was held at the University of Cambridge on Friday 13th December 2013. For the full programme and a report including photos of the prize-winners, please go to:
http://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/BMCS/Postgraduate-Symposium-2013.asp
NB The 8th symposium in this series will be held on Friday 12 December 2014 in the Chemistry Department at the University of Cambridge7th
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The Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology (DMCCB) of the Swiss Chemical Society
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Sociedad Española de Química Terapéutica
Fourth SEQT-GSK Summer School "Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Discovery: the Pharma Perspective"
June 25-27, 2014
Tres Cantos (Madrid), Spain
The Fourth SEQT-GSK Summer School “Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Discovery: The Pharma Perspective” will be organized by the Spanish Society of Medicinal Chemistry (SEQT) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) with the aim of approaching the pharma industry to young researchers, both graduate students and post-doctoral associates, working in chemistry and health sciences related fields. The School will be held at GSK R&D facilities in Tres Cantos (Madrid) in June 25-27 of 2014. The scientific program will be illustrated through real case studies led by an exceptional panel of industry experts currently working at Almirall, Esteve, Faes, GlaxoSmithKline and Janssen.
E-mail: seqt-summerschool@iqm.csic.es
More information is available on: http://www.seqt.org/englinf/summer.asp
XI SEQT Minisymposium: "Nano and Biotechnologies in Drug Discovery and Development"
October 16-17, 2014
Malaga, Spain
The Spanish Society of Medicinal Chemistry (SEQT) is organizing the XI SEQT Minisymposium on “Nano and Biotechnologies in Drug Discovery and Development” scheduled to be held in October 16-17 in Malaga, Spain. The Scientific Program will be composed of invited plenary lectures and oral communications, covering the main contributions and potential of Nano and Biotechnologies in:
- Construction and diversification of chemical libraries.
- Target identification (e.g., RNAi+synthetic lethality).
- Drug Screening (e.g., cell based sensors for High Content Screening).
- Cell factories for drug production (e.g., bacterial, yeast, fungal organisms).
- Estrategies for optimizing the therapeutic index of small drugs (e.g., encapsulation/adsorption/covalent linkage, magnetic nanoparticles, etc.).
- Development of ‘biologicals’ (e.g., antibodies, gene and protein therapy).
- Smart nanotherapeutic systems (e.g., selective delivery, remote opening, etc.).
- Cell therapy (e.g., cell reprograming and therapeutics).
- Omics in drug discovery and development.
For further information and regular updates, please visit our website www.seqt.org
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