School of Pharmacy will host 57th annual medicinal chemistry meeting
LAWRENCE — More than 200 of the brightest minds in medicinal chemistry will be in Lawrence this week as the 57th Annual MIKIW Conference gets underway at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.
In 1963, faculty members from the universities of Minnesota, Illinois at Chicago, Kansas and Iowa created what today is the largest and longest-running regional medicinal chemistry meeting in the United States. This year, the University of Wisconsin has joined the group, changing the name from MIKI to MIKIW.
Graduate students from the hosting university are responsible for not only for the venue, but also for the conference agenda. With guidance from Ryan Altman, associate professor of medicinal chemistry, 15 students have worked for the past 12 months on the conference.
Graduate student Jacob Sorrentino is the organizing committee chair of this year’s event, which will take place April 12-14. Sorrentino said that the experience included everything from room scheduling to choosing the keynote speaker.
“We have been preparing for the MIKIW 2019 conference for about a year. The majority of this work has involved generating funding to cover the various costs associated with hosting a multiday conference," Sorrentino said. “Fortunately, as the conference moved closer, focus shifted to less stressful things like scheduling and food selection. Due to these efforts, we will be hosting a conference with 80 posters, 15 scientific lectures and several opportunities for networking."
Nicholas Meanwell from the Department of Molecular Technologies at Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development will deliver this year’s keynote address.
MIKIW 2019 kicks off with a reception Friday evening and continues with a schedule full of lectures and presentation through noon Sunday.
For more information on the meeting, the keynote speaker or the schedule of events, visit the MIKIW 2019.