MIKIW 2025
April 25 - 27, 2025
The University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS
Details
The first Medicinal Chemistry Meeting-in-Miniature was organized by faculty from the Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy at the Universities of University of Minnesota, University of Illinois at Chicago, The University of Kansas, and The University of Iowa in 1963. Since then, the Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy at these universities have alternately hosted the MIKI meeting. MIKI is the longest running and largest regional medicinal chemistry meeting in the U.S., and brings together over 200 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty members from the four universities on an annual basis. In 2018, the University of Wisconsin-Madison joined MIKI, giving the conference the new name MIKIW. In 2025, the graduate students at The University of Kansas are excited to host the Annual MIKIW Meeting and continue this great tradition.
Graduate students from the hosting university have the opportunity to organize and moderate the entire meeting, providing the valuable experience of coordinating a professional event. In addition, participating students receive professional experiences by delivering oral and/or poster presentations, as well as vital networking opportunities. Furthermore, these annual meetings also act as a catalyst for sharing and exchanging ideas among students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty of the different universities. The meeting features a keynote address from a distinguished scientist in academia, industry, or government, who is a leader in the field of medicinal chemistry.
MIKI Founders
Minnesota | Illinois | Kansas | Iowa |
---|---|---|---|
O. Gisvold | L. Bauer | M.P. Mertes | J.G. Cannon |
P.S. Portoghese | D. Coviello | E.E. Smissman | D.T. Witiak |
T.O. Soine | R. Daniels | R.A. Wiley | |
J.E. Gearien |
MIKIW 2025 Schedule
Agenda To Come

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Kansas is excited to welcome Dr. Matthew Disney to deliver the keynote address for the 62nd annual MIKIW Conference.
Dr. Disney, a catholic school boy from Baltimore, is an Institute Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology (formerly Scripps Florida).
His lab has been at the forefront of developing small molecules that target RNA, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in precision medicine. This research has led to the creation of chemical probes to address critical biomedical challenges, including designing small molecules from genome sequences, enabling cells to produce medicine internally, exploring the biology of coding and non-coding RNAs, and leveraging quality control mechanisms to edit or eliminate disease-causing RNAs.
Matt has founded several biotechnology companies, and his lab’s innovations have been widely adopted by both large and small companies. The lab’s work has earned numerous prestigious awards, including the ACS Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry (with Alicia Angelbello), NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, the Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences, the Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry, the Barry Cohen Award in Medicinal Chemistry, and the Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award, among others. Matt has also been recognized as Scripps Florida Mentor of the Year.
Registration will remain open until March 15th, 2025. This form applies to ALL attendees. For those presenting, abstracts will be submitted through the registration form. As a reminder, only register as an oral presenter if you have been informed to do so by your department.
Please register using the following link: MIKIW 2025 Registration Form
Abstract formatting guidelines for both oral and poster presentations can be found here: MIKIW 2025 Abstract Guidelines
Friday Evening Social: Maceli's
1031 New Hampshire St.
Lawrence, KS 66044
Saturday Formal Banquet: The Oread
1200 Oread Ave.
Lawrence, KS 66044
All scientific presentations will take place in Gray-Little Hall at the University of Kansas
1567 Irving Hill Rd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
Hotels
University of Minnesota:
Holiday Inn
3411 S. W. Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66046
University of Iowa:
Double Tree by Hilton
200 McDonald Drive
Lawrence, KS 66044
University of Wisconsin-Madison:
Spring Hill
1 Riverfront Plaza
Lawrence, KS 66044
University of Illinois-Chicago:
Hampton Inn
2300 W. 6th Street Lawrence,
KS 66049 United States
Sponsors
The 62nd Annual MIKIW Medicinal Chemistry Meeting would not be possible without the support of the following sponsors. The MIKIW 2025 Organizing Committee and the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at The University of Kansas express our appreciation and sincere gratitude for these generous financial contributions. Thank you to all of the 2025 MIKIW supporters!
Platinum-level Sponsors
Gold-level Sponsors
Silver-level Sponsors
Bronze-level Sponsors
Logo Design
Zac Kitay
Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, Zac Kitay is now a graphic designer, photographer, and marketer based in Flagstaff, Arizona after graduating from the University of Kansas. Zac received a B.S. in journalism with a concentration in media arts and production and a minor in Jewish studies. In his free time he enjoys reading, playing keyboard and rhythm guitar, and rock climbing. Zac's work in media, photography, and design can be found throughout the University of Kansas and Lawrence community. Check out more of his work here.
A big thank you to Zac for designing the MIKIW 2025 logo!
The previous keynote speakers are among the most accomplished scientists. This group includes Nobel laureates, members of the National Academy of Sciences, leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, and many members of the ACS Medicinal Chemistry Division Hall of Fame. This year, we are pleased to have Dr. Matthew D. Disney of UF Scripps deliver the keynote address.
Past Keynote Lectures
Year | Host | Speaker | Association |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Daniel K. Nomura | University of California, Berkeley |
2023 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Nicole Goodwin | GlaxoSmithKline |
2022 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Kate Caroll | Scripps Research Institute |
2021 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Dr. Emma R. Parmee | Janssen Research & Development |
2020 | MIKIW Cancelled due to COVID-19 | N/A | N/A |
2019 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Nicholas A. Meanwell | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
2018 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Michelle Arkin | University of California, San Francisco |
2017 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Uttam K. Tambar | UT Southwestern Medical Center |
2016 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Amy Hauck Newman | NIH-NIDA |
2015 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Bruce Roth | Genentech |
2014 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Paul Wender | Stanford University |
2013 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Marvin J. Miller | University of Notre Dame |
2012 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Heidi E. Hamm | Vanderbilt University |
2011 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Dennis C. Liotta | Emory University |
2010 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Tomáš Hudlický | Brock University |
2009 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Dale Boger | Scripps Research Institute |
2008 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Daniel Kahne | Harvard University |
2007 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Albert Padwa | Emory University |
2006 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. William Fenical | University of California, San Diego |
2005 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Christopher Lipinski | Pfizer, Inc. |
2004 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Kenner Rice | NIH |
2003 | The University of Kansas | Dr. C. Dale Poulter | University of Utah |
2002 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Richard B. Silverman | Northwestern University |
2001 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Andrew Hamilton | Yale University |
2000 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Michael Marletta | University of Michigan |
1999 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Roger M. Friedinger | Merck Research Laboratories |
1998 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Richard A. Lerner | Scripps Research Institute |
1997 | University of Minnesota | Dr. John Montgomery | Biocryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
1996 | The University of Iowa | Dr. David Nichols | Purdue University |
1995 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Paul Anderson | Dupont Merck Pharmaceuticals |
1994 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Arthur Patchett | Merck Research Laboratories |
1993 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Daniel Rich | University of Wisconsin, Madison |
1992 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Laurence Hurley | University of Texas, Austin |
1991 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Julius Rebek | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
1990 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Koji Nakanishi | Columbia University |
1989 | University of Minnesota | Dr. John Katzenellenbogen | University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
1988 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Carl Djerrasi | Stanford University |
1987 | The University of Kansas | Dr. William Roush | Indiana University |
1986 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Joseph Fried | University of Chicago |
1985 | University of Minnesota | Dr. David Triggle | SUNY Buffalo |
1984 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Alan Katritzky | University of Florida |
1983 | University of Wisconsin | Dr. Paul Bartlett | University of California, Berkeley |
1982 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Henry Rapoport | University of California, Berkeley |
1981 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Harry Wasserman | Yale University |
1980 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Eugene Jorgensen | University of California, San Francisco |
1979 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Alan Sartorelli | Yale University |
1978 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Albert Meyers | Colorado State University |
1977 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Heinz Floss | Purdue University |
1976 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Donald Jerina | NIH |
1975 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Everett May | NIH |
1974 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Marjorie Horning | Baylor University |
1973 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Arnold Brossi | Hoffman-LaRoche |
1972 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Gertrude Elion | Burroughs-Wellcome |
1971 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Bernard Belleau | University of Ottawa |
1970 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Corwin Hansch | Pomona College |
1969 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Dr. Everett Maynert | University of Illinois |
1968 | University of Minnesota | Dr. Bernard Baker | University of California, Santa Barbara |
1967 | The University of Iowa | Dr. Julius Axelrod | NIH |
1966 | The University of Kansas | Dr. Richard Schowen | The University of Kansas |
For questions about MIKIW 2025, contact KU Medicinal Chemistry at medchem@ku.edu.
MIKIW 2025 Organizing Committee:
Matthew Russolillo, Pei-Hsuan Chen, Victor Fadare, Mauricio Bahena Garcia, Farjana Afroj
Faculty Liason: Dr. Zarko Boskovic