Significant Capabilities

• The 20+ faculty members who have an interest in CMD5 are already externally funded (currently ca. $6.3 million over the last three years in federal and industrial support).
  
  USF is committed to making key hires to further enhance the core of researchers. Four new medicinal chemistry faculty researchers have been hired since 2001 and additional faculty have been hired in cognate areas such as molecular modeling, biophysical chemistry and biochemistry.
   
• The availability of structural biology laboratories dedicated to drug discovery efforts in the CMD5 is essential for the successful discovery of lead compounds that translate to clinical trials.
  
  The information provided by the human genome sequencing project is evolving into the opportunity to understand the causes of many diseases, including cancer, to address drug resistant bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, and to develop new and powerful means to treat them or even prevent them. This elucidation of the human genome sequence is providing a plethora of new targets for drug discovery. However, this opportunity exacerbates a problem that is already facing drug discovery: a dearth of novel lead compounds. The importance of this field in general and to the State of Florida is exemplified by its recent investment in the Scripps Institute, which will focus upon the science and technology of drug discovery.
   
• The proximity of a nucleus group of appropriate scientists in USF together with USF’s internationally respected Moffitt Cancer Institute provides an excellent resource to companies wishing to engage in research in drug discovery.
  
  That USF is undergoing a period of growth and renewal means that we have had and will continue to have the opportunity to make key hires in a very short time period and to develop unique synergies that do not presently exist elsewhere.
   
• The Center at USF has strength and experience in the generation of novel lead compounds and scaffolds.
  
  USF’s Division of Patents & Licensing has successfully worked with pharma and venture backed groups to license lead compounds for a range of therapies.
   
• CMD5 has built state of the art mass spectrometry and nmr core facilities that are managed by PhD’s.
   
• Co-crystals, natural products, anticancer, and antibacterial are some of the areas of research focus.