Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
Medicinal chemistry sits at the intersection of chemistry and medicine, applying the principles of organic chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology to the design and development of drugs. It is the scientific discipline responsible for identifying how molecules interact with biological targets, how their properties can be optimised for efficacy, selectivity and safety, and how they can be synthesised in quantities sufficient for clinical use. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most scientifically demanding and commercially significant sectors in the world, and medicinal chemists are essential to the discovery and development of every new medicine.
At Imperial College London, this four-year full-time programme with a specialism in medicinal chemistry is designed to prepare you for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or biomedical research. You will develop an interconnected understanding of core chemistry topics, including organic synthesis, physical chemistry, computational chemistry and structural chemistry, alongside the specific skills of medicinal chemistry: target identification, lead optimisation, structure-activity relationships, ADMET properties and the drug discovery process from early research through to clinical candidate selection. Imperial's exceptional research reputation in chemistry and its close connections with the pharmaceutical industry provide an outstanding environment for this training.
Graduates are sought by pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology and drug discovery firms, contract research organisations, academic research institutions and regulatory agencies. Career roles include medicinal chemist, process chemist, drug discovery scientist, computational chemist and research scientist. Many graduates continue to doctoral research at Imperial or other leading institutions, as a PhD is often expected for senior research roles in the pharmaceutical sector.
The degree also provides a strong foundation for careers in chemical consultancy, patent law and regulatory affairs.