Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery

Biological chemistry and drug discovery sits at the point where chemistry, pharmacology and biology converge to address one of the most consequential challenges in medicine: finding new treatments for disease. The discipline uses techniques from molecular and chemical biology to understand how biological systems work at the molecular level, how they go wrong in disease, and how small molecules can be designed and refined to intervene. From identifying disease targets in the genome through to synthesising candidate compounds, testing their activity and understanding how they are metabolised and tolerated, drug discovery draws on an extraordinarily rich toolkit of scientific methods.

At the University of Dundee, which has an internationally recognised research reputation in drug discovery and structural biology, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you scientific experience in a different research culture. You will study organic chemistry, structural biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and the scientific methods used in modern drug development pipelines. Dundee's Drug Discovery Unit, which has developed candidates targeting diseases including cancer, malaria and tuberculosis, gives you direct exposure to world-class research as part of your studies.

The year abroad places you in an international research environment, deepening both your scientific skills and your understanding of how drug discovery is practised globally.

Graduates of this programme are well positioned for careers in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, in roles spanning early discovery, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, clinical trials and regulatory affairs. Careers are also open in academic research, public health organisations, medical charities and the growing life sciences sector. Further study at doctoral level is common for those drawn to research careers in drug discovery, chemical biology, pharmacology or structural biology, and Dundee's postgraduate provision in these fields provides a natural continuation.