Weiqian David Hong, Ph.D

Lecturer in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry,

University of Liverpool, Liverpool, U.K.

Time: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5th, 2019

Place: Room 412, Building 5, School of Pharmacy

Host: Prof. Zhankui Sun

Abstract: There are clear opportunities and needs for drug discovery researches in academic institutes to fill the gaps leave by the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in some less profitable diseases areas. In this talk I want to share our experience in academic drug discovery through some examples from the projected carried out by the Liverpool team in recently years. These includes the discovery of anti-malarial and anti-tubercular lead series through targeting a common biological pathway, the mitochondrial electron transport chain, in the pathogens and the discovery of a fast acting anti-Wolbachia candidate for the treatment of human filariasis. The lessons learnt from the process may help to shed some light on how to overcome some challenges facing by the academia in drug discovery