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KU Department of Medicinal Chemistry

KU MedChem offers developing scientists an opportunity to study alongside world-class faculty researchers.

About KU MedChem

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry

The KU Department of Medicinal Chemistry provides Ph.D. students a strong foundation in organic and medicinal chemistry with flexibility for additional emphasis in aspects of biochemistry, pharmacology and other biological sciences.

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M.S. in Medicinal Chemistry

The Master of Science degree (M.S.) in Medicinal Chemistry provides advanced training in synthetic organic chemistry, chemical biology, and scientific writing.

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KU Medicinal Chemistry

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Our Research

Our diverse faculty cover and unusually broad range of scientific interests, including synthetic and medicinal chemistry, biochemistry and peptide chemistry, and natural products chemistry.
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Mertes Lecture Series

The Mathias P. Mertes Memorial Lecture Series was created to memorialize Professor and former Department of Medicinal Chemistry Chair Mathias P. Mertes and his dedication to excellence in research and scholarship through a student-initiated lecture series.
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Smissman Lecture Series

The Edward E. Smissman Memorial Lecture Series in Medicinal Chemistry was established in 2004 to honor and preserve the influence and tradition of Professor and former Department of Medicinal Chemistry Chair Edward E. Smissman and his wife Clare Smissman.



KU MedChem News

A University of Kansas research center developing technologies to better understand and diagnose disease has received a $5.7 million federal grant to sustain the collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment it has helped foster at KU since 2012 through its core laboratories and faculty…

Apurba Dutta has been named associate dean of academic affairs for the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. Dutta has been a faculty member in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the school since 2000 and began his career at KU in 1999 as assistant director of the Drug Discovery Program at…

Mike Wolfe and illustration representing synaptic degeneration triggered by stalled γ-secretase enzyme-substrate complexes. Illustration credit: Julia J. Wolfe, M.F.A. (juliajwolfe.com)

The research team came to the surprising conclusion that the stalled process of amyloid production — not the amyloid itself — can trigger loss of critical connections between nerve cells.