About
A leading, dynamic and innovative research institute
As part of one of the top-ranked pharmacy faculties, we collaborate with leading pharmaceutical partners to advance new approaches to drug development with global impact.
Our therapeutic research strengths span neuroscience and mental health, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and global health. With our researchers making major contributions to collaborative drug discovery and development programs, helping progress more than 30 novel drug candidates into clinical development. We continue to translate innovative pharmaceutical research into therapies that can benefit patients worldwide.
Our expertise lies in the discovery and development of new medicines and in understanding how medicines are best utilised in hospitals, in the community and in specialised settings like aged care.
In spite of huge advances in health care, including the discovery of life saving medicines such as those for high blood pressure, HIV and many bacterial infections, there remain many diseases and conditions that are poorly treated and cause suffering and death around the world. These include recently identified threats such as COVID-19, but also well-known diseases such as cancer, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, malaria, tuberculosis and many more. These outstanding unmet medical needs drive our researchers every day to seek new medicines and improved treatments to enhance the lives of patients within Australia and across the world.
At the simplest level drug discovery and development is the science of:
- Identifying a biological process that is changed in disease and that can be altered to reverse the disease process (drug discovery biology)
- Identifying and synthesising molecules that can stimulate this reversal (medicinal chemistry)
- Designing into this molecule the characteristics that also allow it to be absorbed into the body after dosing, avoid breakdown (metabolism) and maintain concentrations in the body for long enough to have the desired effect, and ultimately be safely eliminated (lead optimisation)
- Developing a product (e.g., tablet, capsule, injection, inhaled product) to deliver the molecule to the right place (e.g., tumour, lungs, heart) for the right period of time to allow safe, effective and convenient dosing to patients (drug formulation and delivery).
This process occurs under perhaps the strictest regulatory framework in the world to ensure both safety and efficacy when a new drug is ultimately approved and administered to patients.
Our impact
Our vision is to be an international leader in drug discovery and development with impact in the treatment of major global health burdens.
Collaborators and industry partners
Drug discovery and the optimised use of medicines is complex and multidisciplinary. Collaboration is vital and our collaborators and industrial partners are a critical part of our mission.
Our drug discovery activities
We are a world leader in drug discovery, development and innovation with programs directed to diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, mental health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and maternal health.
EMCR Committee
Promotes specialised programs, exchange of scientific ideas and collaborations for the benefit of early and mid-career researchers.
Her Research Matters (HRM)
Promotes, sponsors and fosters women's academic careers.
MOSAIC
A support network aimed at fostering the inclusion of individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
