Overview
Chemical synthesis can impact human health through basic science discoveries in chemical biology as well as translational research that can lead to new therapeutics. With the establishment of its Institute of Chemical Biology in 2007, Vanderbilt was at the forefront of efforts to conduct drug discovery in an academic setting. A critical component of the VICB is the Molecular Design and Synthesis Core (MDSC), originally known as the Chemical Synthesis Core. Its mission is to support the medicinal and synthetic chemistry needs of investigators across Vanderbilt’s campus and beyond. The core provides researchers with access to small molecules with defined or to-be-designed structures as well as hit-to-lead medicinal chemistry support. For a sampling of core projects completed between 2007 and 2020 (numbering over 500 at the time of publication), see: ACS Chemical Biology 2021, 787-793 (PMID: 33877812)
Collaborative Environment Expertise in the core includes the discovery of chemical probes with functional purpose to enable early proof-of-concept studies in disease models as well as hit-to-lead optimization. In connection with the latter programs, the core collaborates with the VICB High Throughput Screening Center (V-HTS) following small molecule lead identification and with investigators with disease-specific expertise. Lead optimization is further supported by agreements with favored Contract Research Organizations assess physical and in vitro ADME properties and chemical probe selectivity (ancillary pharmacology).
Our Team
The Molecular Design and Synthesis Core (MDSC) is staffed by synthetic chemists with a broad expertise and a complimentary range of experience in synthetic design and execution. The MDSC team has a long history of working collaboratively with faculty and scientists at VU, VUMC, and across the country. The team is highly collaborative and experienced in team science and possesses key skill sets for advancing chemical biology and hit/lead optimization programs (for examples, see: Design, Synthesis and Capabilities).
Leadership
Staff
Internal Advisory Board
History/Background
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, drug discovery was primarily driven by large pharmaceutical companies that combined biochemical and pharmacological expertise to identify disease-related protein targets. The process involved developing assays to test thousands of small molecules for their ability to modulate these targets, identifying initial “hits,” and then optimizing these hits through chemical modifications to create lead compounds suitable for clinical development.
This traditional approach was often time-intensive and costly, limiting broad participation in drug discovery efforts. However, technological advances in the past two decades-particularly the advent of automated high-throughput screening and improvements in medicinal chemistry techniques-have transformed this landscape. These innovations have allowed academic institutions to participate actively in all phases of drug development, bridging the gap between fundamental research and therapeutic application.
In alignment with this shift, Vanderbilt University recognized the need to provide dedicated support for medicinal and synthetic chemistry within an academic framework. As a result, the Chemical Synthesis Core was established in 2007 within the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology to facilitate access to chemical synthesis resources for Vanderbilt investigators. The core has since evolved to become the Molecular Design and Synthesis Center (MDSC) in 2021, reflecting its expanded capabilities in functional probe design and lead optimization. This evolution underscores Vanderbilt’s commitment to advancing drug discovery through integrated chemical biology and medicinal chemistry expertise.