Session 1

Session 2

Molecules to Medicine

The Chemistry of Drug Discovery

How are modern medicines actually made? Step into Pacific’s chemistry labs and discover how scientists turn molecular designs into potential new medicines. Working alongside faculty and graduate students, you’ll carry out chemical reactions to synthesize organic and inorganic drug candidates, then purify and analyze the compounds you’ve created using advanced laboratory instruments.

Along the way, you’ll explore how drugs interact with biological targets and use computer modeling to design promising molecules. From molecular design to hands-on synthesis, experience firsthand how chemists help create the medicines that transform modern healthcare!

Curriculum

Using quantum-chemical modeling and studying scientific literature, students will learn how cancer develops and different types of chemotherapy conquer cancer cells. 

Working alongside faculty and graduate student mentors, students will use a variety of lab glassware and design and synthesis techniques to create organic and inorganic anticancer drug compounds. Following the synthesis, students will purify and characterize these drugs with advanced analytical equipment. They will then analyze the data and examine the mechanisms by which the individual drugs destroy cancer cells. Students will present their final findings.

Student with vials
Planned Topics
  • Learn what cancer is and how different chemotherapy options treat cancer 
  • Learn about laboratory techniques for synthesizing anti-cancer drug molecules
  • Design and synthesize anticancer drugs
  • Purify and characterize synthesized products using advanced analytical chemistry equipment
  • Use theoretical modeling and scientific literature to improve on drug designs
  • Develop a scientific research presentation and professionally present it to a diverse audience
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Qinliang Zhao
Faculty Lead
Qinliang Zhao

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry

PhD in Inorganic Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 2007
BS in Chemistry, Zhejiang University, 2003

Dr. Zhao’s research group focuses on the design and creation of organic molecules, enzyme inhibitors and metal-containing architectures for catalyst and anticancer drug development. They employ bioactivity assays and theoretical modeling to examine reactivities and innovate their design toward more efficient and selective medicines.

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