Medicinal chemistry is at the forefront of innovation, blending synthetic chemistry, molecular modeling, computational biology, structural genomics, and pharmacology to discover and design new drugs, and investigate their interaction at the molecular, cellular, and whole-animal level. Our department in the School of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is forging new ground by continuing the tradition of applying the latest strategies and concepts from broad disciplines of science.

Modern genomics and proteomics have elevated the sophistication of discovering new therapeutic targets. This data-intensive research is feeding the fast-paced fields of bioinformatics and pharmacogenomics, as they become integral components of medicinal chemistry. We at VCU continue to be exquisitely positioned to take advantage of these and other cutting-edge fields for the advancement of drug research through the next decade.

Opportunities in our department foster discovery, collaboration, and advancement of academic- and industry-oriented goals, which form the heart of our Ph.D. and M.S. graduate programs.