About us

The Australian Translational Medicinal Chemistry Facility (ATMCF) is a national drug discovery facility that helps transform promising biological research into potential new medicines. We partner with researchers, medical research institutes, clinicians, biotechnology companies and translation organisations to advance therapeutic programs from early discovery through to preclinical development.

Our purpose

To accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into new medicines by providing nationally accessible medicinal chemistry expertise and collaborative drug discovery capability.

What We Do

Our team provides expert medicinal chemistry leadership across all stages of small-molecule drug discovery, including hit identification and validation, lead optimisation, structure-based drug design, computational modelling, and development of intellectual property strategies. By combining scientific expertise with a strong focus on translation, we help researchers overcome the challenges of turning innovative discoveries into commercially and clinically relevant therapeutic opportunities.

ATMCF works across a broad range of disease areas, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, inflammatory conditions and rare diseases. Through collaborative project delivery, we support the design of higher-quality drug candidates with improved potency, selectivity, safety and drug-like properties.

As part of Australia's therapeutic innovation ecosystem, ATMCF bridges the gap between fundamental research and real-world health outcomes. Our goal is to accelerate the development of novel Australian therapeutics by providing the medicinal chemistry expertise, strategic guidance and translational capabilities needed to move discoveries closer to patients.

Our partners

ATMCF partners with researchers, medical research institutes, clinicians, biotechnology companies, investors and national infrastructure providers to translate innovative Australian science into therapeutic opportunities. Through collaborations spanning academia, industry and government-supported translation programs, we help advance discoveries from early-stage biology towards preclinical development and commercial outcomes.

Facts and figures

  • 7 x small molecule compounds into human clinical trials

    Progressed 7 new drug candidates into clinical development across many disease indications

    80
  • Supporting Australian biotech

    Value creation within Australian drug discovery through the support of University spin-out companies and major licencing deals for Australian academic and commercial groups

  • > 1B total headline value

    The value of licensing deals arising from projects

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