The Medicinal Chemistry Department seminars involve a mix of prominent researchers from both academic institutions and industry presenting research at the forefront of Medicinal Chemistry (broadly defined). They also include presentations from our own students (dissertation defenses & research seminars). The seminars are held remotely on Thursday, weekly at 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. Select a semester from the drop-down menu below to browse the schedule. Remote Seminars for 2020-2021, Zoom links will be announced via e-mail. Please contact the department at COP-MedChemDept@med.umich.edu if you would like to be added to the MedChemSeminars e-mail announcement group.

View a list of all MedChem seminars

January 19, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Jay Schneekloth, PhD
Senior Investigator, Chemical Biology Laboratory; Head, Chemical Genetics Section
National Cancer Institute

Tools and Tactics for Targeting RNA with Small Molecules

Faculty Host: Amanda Garner
Speaker Abstract
January 26, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Passcode: 250708
Dalia Soueid
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Cell-Based Assay Development Strategies for the Detection and Validation of Aberrant mRNA-Protein Interactions

Faculty Host: Amanda Garner ( algarner@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
February 7, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Adam Ard
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Discovery and development of small molecule sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activators for the treatment of diastolic dysfunction

Faculty Host: Martin Clasby ( mclasby@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
February 9, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Mason Baber
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Discovery and Optimization of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase (PDHK) Inhibitors for Modulation of Tumor Metabolism

Faculty Host: Peter Toogood ( toogood@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
February 14, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Mya Gough
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Novel PDHK Inhibitors as a Therapeutic Treatment for Cancer

Faculty Host: Peter Toogood ( toogood@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
February 16, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Passcode: 916566
Jordan Hungerford
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Elucidation of a BNM2 BURP domain biosynthetic pathway in Ziziphus jujuba

Faculty Host: Roland Kersten ( rkersten@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
February 21, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Passcode: 288153
Sophia Meyer
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Precision-Medicine Models for Predicting Immune-Mediated Drug Efficacy and Toxicity

Faculty Host: Jonny Sexton ( jzsexton@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
February 27, 2023
10:00am
2548 NUB
Passcode: medchem
Yuning Shen
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Defense
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

High Throughput Experimentation Facilitated Development of Amine-Acid Cross Coupling Reactions

Faculty Host: Tim Cernak ( tcernak@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
February 28, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Andrew Outlaw
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Development of a High-Throughput FRET-Based Assay to Enable Rapid Amine-Acid Reaction Discovery

Faculty Host: Tim Cernak ( tcernak@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
March 9, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Dionicio Siegel, PhD
Professor, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of California, San Diego

Accessing, Understanding, and Optimizing Natural Products Through Chemical Synthesis

Faculty Host: Tim Cernak ( tcernak@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
March 14, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Ruheng Zhao
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Development of Novel C–C Coupling Reactions from Amines and Acids

Faculty Host: Tim Cernak ( tcernak@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
March 16, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Erika Taylor, PhD
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Wesleyan University

Drug Discovery and E. coli HeptosyltransferaseI - How basic science research might change our understanding of antibiotic mechanism of action

Faculty Host: Peter Toogood ( toogood@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
March 21, 2023
4:00pm
2548 NUB
Passcode:689854
Khadija Shafiq
Medicinal Chemistry PhD Candidate, Third-Year Student Seminar
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan

Systematic discovery of plant natural products for the development of lung cancer therapeutics

Faculty Host: Jonny Sexton ( jzsexton@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract
April 20, 2023
4:00pm
Palmer Commons Forum Hall
Craig Crews, PhD
John C. Malone Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Professor of Chemistry, of Pharmacology, and of Management; Executive Director, Yale Center for Molecular Discovery
Yale University

PROTACs and Targeted Protein Degradation: A New Therapeutic Modality

Faculty Host: Shaomeng Wang ( shaomeng@umich.edu )
Speaker Abstract