Efforts to prevent, treat or cure disease in Australia will be enhanced following the launch of a multi-million dollar facility at Monash University.

The Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) has formed a collaborative partnership with the Federal and Victorian Governments, and private industry, to enhance Australia’s translational medicinal chemistry drug development capabilities through the establishment of the Translational Medicinal Chemistry Facility at the University’s Parkville campus.

The facility is housed in new, dedicated and well-equipped laboratories and is co-located with the Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, which has collaboratively supported the translation of 16 drug candidates into clinical evaluation.

Efforts to prevent, treat or cure disease in Australia will be enhanced following the launch of a multi-million dollar facility at Monash University. Photo credit: Monash University

Director of MIPS and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Bill Charman said world-class medicinal chemistry was essential to translate fundamental biological and chemical insights into potential drug candidates destined for pre-clinical and clinical development.

“Collaborative research between chemists, biologists and pharmaceutical scientists is essential to translate innovative research insights into high value, clinically relevant products and new medicines,” Professor Charman said.

“Our strengths are in structure-based drug design and synthetic medicinal and organic chemistry. Our researchers apply these chemical principles and techniques to the discovery and development of compounds to prevent, treat or cure disease.”

The facility was officially launched at a Monash Business Breakfast last month where discussions were held into how the Facility and MIPS could provide access to translational expertise in medicinal chemistry, lead optimisation, drug delivery and pre-clinical development.

A plaque was unveiled with representation from the Federal and Victorian government.