The Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry has a strong research focus on therapeutic drug design directed to immune and central nervous system targets. Some research efforts are aimed at the development of novel therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease. Cancer-related research interests include the synthesis of antimitotic agents, the design of radio-sensitizing drugs, and modified monoclonal antibodies as vehicles for the site-directed inactivation of cancer cells. Immunological approaches have focused on selective immunotoxic proteins of venom origin, the role of T-cells in the development of diabetes, and peptides as selective immunosuppressive agents-including peptides as selective interleukin receptor antagonists and in the selective blockage of antigen presentation. Molecular biological approaches include the development of techniques for selective blockage of gene expression in eukaryotic cells.
Research within the department led to the establishment of the Center for Drug Design and Development. The Center has become a focal point for developing collaborative research efforts with the pharmaceutical industry. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, and visiting scholars all contribute to an increasingly interesting and vital research environment.
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