Artur Silva

QOPNA & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal

Biography

Artur M. S. Silva is currently Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro. He is the President of the Portuguese Chemical Society, Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences and belongs to the Executive Board of the EuCheMs. He is currently on the editorial advisory board of some SCI journals. He studied chemistry at the University of Aveiro, where he graduated in Chemistry and Physics in 1987. In 1993 he received his PhD in chemistry at the same University, under the supervision of Prof. José Cavaleiro and began his independent career as an Assistant Professor in 1994. He was appointed Associate Professor with tenure in 1998 and Full Professor in 2001. He has published over 530 papers (h index of 40), 39 book chapters, 2 patents and has delivered more than 48 lectures. His research interests include the chemistry of polyphenolic and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, with special emphasis on the development of new synthetic routes and also on organocatalytic and metal-catalyzed transformations, as well as the synthesis of biologically active compounds. However, the second line of his research is centered on the isolation and structural characterization of natural and bioactive products from diverse terrestrial and marine sources.

Janine Cossy

ESPCI Paris, France

Biography

Janine Cossy’s early career was spent in Reims, where she did her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Champagne-Ardenne, working on photochemistry under the supervision of Pr. Jean Pierre Pète. After a postdoctoral stay with Pr. Barry M. Trost for two years, at the University of Wisconsin (USA), she returned to Reims where she became, in 1990, Director of Research at the CNRS. In the same year, she moved to Paris and, since 1990, she is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the ESPCI Paris. Janine Cossy's research interests focus on the synthesis of natural products and biologically active molecules and on the development of synthetic methods. Her research has resulted in more than 485 publications and 15 patents. Among the awards, she received the CNRS Bronze Medal (1987), the CNRS Silver Medal (1996), UK Royal Society Rosalyn Franklin International Lectureship (awarded to internationally recognized women scientists) (UK) (2005), Le Bel Award from the French Chemical Society (France) (2009). In 2013, she was nominated Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and in 2015, she obtained the E. C. Taylor Senior Award (USA) and the UR Ghatak endowment award (IACS, India). She is Organic Letters Associate Editor since 2005.

Luis G. Arnaut

University of Coimbra, Portugal

Biography

Author of 15 Books and Book Chapters, ca. 150 articles that collected ca 4500 citations. Co-inventor of 5 patent families, all licenced to the pharmaceutical industry. Coordinates the BSc and MSc in Mecicinal Chemistry at the University of Coimbra, and the FCT PhD program on Medicinal Chemistry (MedChemTrain). Distinguished with the Gulbenkian Prize for Science (1994), BES Innovation Prize (2008), AVDRI-Santander Prize (2010), INVENTA Prize of the Portuguese Institute for Industrial Property (2011) and ALTEC Prize (2016). Co-founder of Luzitin SA and member of its Board of Directors. Co-Founder and Chairman of LaserLeap SA.Director of the Coimbra Laserlab, member of the Europena resaerch infrastructure LaserLab Europe and of the Roteiro of Portuguese strategical infrastructures. Principal investigator of over 20 projects approved in competitive call opened by the Portuguese Science Foundation, QREN, Horizon 2020, European Research Area – Chemistry, and European Science Foundation.

Maria-Laura Bolognesi

University of Bologna, Italy

Biography

Maria-Laura Bolognesi is Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of the Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies degree program at the University of Bologna. After completing an MSc in 1990, she undertook PhD studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences with Prof. Carlo Melchiorre. In 1994, she went on a post-doctoral position at the University of Minnesota with Prof. Philip Portoghese. From June to August 2009 she was a “Distinguished Visiting Professor” at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid and “Special Visiting Researcher” of the University of Brasilia in 2014-2016. She served on several academic advisory and international grant panels. Since 2016 Maria-Laura is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry She has authored 140 peer-reviewed papers in the field of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, and delivered 50 invited talks worldwide. She has particular research interests in the application of multi-target drug discovery and theranostics concepts to neurodegenerative and neglected tropical diseases.

A. Stephen K. Hashmi

University of Heidelberg, Germany

Biography

A. Stephen K. Hashmi was born in1963 in Munich, Germany. He studied chemistry at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany where he received his doctorate degree (1991), under the supervision Prof. G. Szeimies, studying highly strained organic compounds. After a postdoctoral fellowship with Prof. B. M. Trost at Stanford University (1991-1993), he held positions at the Free University of Berlin, Frankfurt University, the University of Vienna, the University of Tasmania, the University of Marburg, and the University of Stuttgart. His awards include the Heisenberg Fellowship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Dr. Otto Röhm Memorial Fellowship, the Karl-Ziegler Memorial Fellowship, the ORCHEM Prize for Natural Sciences from the German Chemical Society, and the Hector Research Award. Stephen K. Hashmi is currently Professor for Organic Chemistry at the University of Heidelberg as well as Vice Rector for Research and Transfer. His research interests include ligand development, methodology development, and detailed mechanistic studies in homogeneous transition-metal catalysis.

Stuart J. Conway

University of Oxford, England

Biography

Stuart Conway is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and the E. P. Abraham Cephalosporin Fellow in Organic Chemistry at St Hugh's College, Oxford. He studied Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Warwick before undertaking PhD studies with Professors David Jane and Jeff Watkins FRS in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Bristol. Stuart completed post-doctoral studies with Professor Andrew Holmes FRS at the University of Cambridge working on the synthesis of inositol polyphosphates. In 2003, he was appointed as a Lecturer in Bioorganic Chemistry at the University of St Andrews, in 2008 Associate Professor at Oxford, and in October 2014 he became to Full Professor. Between March and August 2013 Stuart was a Visiting Associate at the California Institute of Technology, hosted by Professors Bob Grubbs and Dianne Newman. Stuart's research focuses on the development of molecular tools to enable the study of biological systems. This work has been recognised by the award of the 2012 Prize for a Young Medicinal Chemist in Academia by the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry, and the 2016 Lectureship of the Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Section of the RSC.

Alexandra M. M. Antunes

University of Lisbon, Portugal

Biography

Alexandra M. M. Antunes obtained a degree in Chemistry by Faculdade de Ciências in 1994, a M.Sc. in Industrial Organic Chemistry (1998) and a PhD in Organic Chemistry (2003), both by Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT-UNL). Before completing the PhD degree, she obtained a position in the lead national pharmaceutical company, BIAL. In 2006 she became Assistant Researcher at REQUIMTE. In 2008 she obtained a position as Assistant Researcher (through Ciência 2007 FCT Program) at the Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico (CQE-IST) where she established her own research line, aimed at evaluating drug-protein adducts as adequate biomarkers of toxicity/exposure to chronic therapies. Since 2013, she is Principal Researcher at CQE-IST, a position obtained under the FCT Investigator call. In 2014 she received the LRI Award, from The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), one of Europe’s largest research grants for early career toxicologists.

Anthony J. Burke

University of Évora, Portugal

Biography

Anthony J. Burke obtained a BSc (Chemistry & Biology, 1988) from NUI-Maynooth and a PhD from UCD, Ireland (1993). He carried out post-doc work with Steve Davies (Oxford, 1993-96) and Chris Maycock (ITQB, 1996-1999). Before accepting his current lectureship position in Evora, he lectured at Instituto Piaget (Almada). He has agregation in organic chemistry since 2012. He has over 80 publications, was the vice-president of the organic chemistry division of SPQ (2011-2013) and founded Chiratecnics Lda (2009). He has co-authored the book, Catalytic Arylation Methods – From the Academic Lab to Industrial Processes, (Wiley) with another book; “Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Synthesis” (Wiley), Catalytic Processes in Research and Development, underway. He is chairman of the International Symposium on Synthesis and Catalysis 2017 (ISySyCat2017) and co-editor of special editions of ChemCatChem and Molecules.

Arménio C. Serra

University of Coimbra, Portugal

Biography

Arménio C. Serra obtained his degree in Biochemistry (1986) and completed his PhD. in Organic Chemistry in 1998 at the at University of Coimbra. He then did research and taught at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Oporto University and later on at the Catholic University. His research areas included sulphonyl radical reactions and the synthesis of porphyrin macrocycles as oxidation and photooxidation catalysts. Later on, as Researcher at the Department of Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra, his main research was focused on the use of porphyrins in photodynamic therapy, and on the preparation of supported organic catalysts for carbon-carbon condensation reactions. Presently he is Assistant Professor at the Chemical Engineering Department, University of Coimbra, and the main topic of his research is the development of controlled radical polymerization processes for the synthesis of polymeric structures and the development of new biobased polymers.

László E. Kiss

BIAL, Portugal

Biography

László E. Kiss received his M.Sc. in 1994 and his Ph.D. (1998) in organic chemistry with specialization in organofluorine chemistry from Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. From 1998 to 2002, he worked as a combinatorial chemist and Project Leader at ComGenex Inc. in Budapest. In 2002, he joined BIAL−Portela & Ca, S. Mamede do Coronado, Portugal, as a medicinal chemist and became the leader of the Medicinal Chemistry Group of BIAL in 2011. He has contributed to the discovery and advancement of five new chemical entities into preclinical or late clinical phases of development in humans, aimed at the treatment of CNS and cardiovascular disorders, including the EU-approved antiparkinsonian drug Ongentys™. He has co-authored several patent inventions, original research articles, reviews and book chapters covering pharmacologically active molecules, drug metabolism, and the manufacture of advanced intermediates and active drug substances.

Paula Branco

New University of Lisbon, Portugal

Biography

Paula Branco is Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Tecnology, Nova University of Lisbon. During her career, she has been teaching courses related to organic chemistry, organic synthesis and mechanisms at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She is the co-author of more than 60 scientific publications and three book chapters. Her scientific interest is focussed on organic chemistry namely the “target-oriented organic synthesis” and has been diversified into several areas, always based on the design and synthesis of new molecules. In particular, 1) the synthesis of several metabolites resulting from the action of xenobiotics in the human body, 2) the functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles based on magnetite with metals or organic ligands, 3) the synthesis of natural products and derivatives with potential biological interest and 4) the idealization and synthesis of new dye molecules as sensitizers for solar cells, DSSC. Currently, resulting from collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry, she has been involved in the development of new synthesis for APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients).

Victor Freitas

University of Porto, Portugal

Biography

Victor Freitas got his degree in Chemistry from the Faculty of Science of the University of Porto (FCUP) in 1984. In 1995, he obtained his PhD in Biological and Medical Sciences in the University of Bordeaux II (France). After his PhD, he returned to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (DQB) of FCUP, where he has been developing his teaching and research activities. He is currently Full Professor at the University of Porto, member of the REQUIMTE-LAQV Research Centre and the leader of the Food Polyphenol Lab, where he has been developing an independent research area involving polyphenol compounds, and namely: a) the chemical transformations resulting from oxidation processes of polyphenolic pigments, including technological applications in the food industry; b) the interaction of different classes of polyphenols with proteins in the sensory and nutritional context; c) the antioxidant and biological properties of polyphenolic compounds. Victor Freitas has more than 240 original articles published in journals indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI), several book chapters, numerous invited conferences, running multiple I&DT projects and several supervisions of Master and PhD students.

João Tomé

University of Lisbon, Portugal

Biography

João P. C. Tomé obtained his BSc. (1996) and Ph.D. (2001) in Chemistry, both from the University of Aveiro. Then he did a long post-doc with several visits at international labs, returning to Aveiro in 2008 with the Science 2007 program. In 2012 was awarded one of the IF (FCT Investigador) grants. Since 2016, he is Associate Professor at Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa. He has been referee of national and international grant programs and of several international scientific journals. He has published over 150 papers, 5 book chapters and issued 3 patents. He has delivered invited oral communications in national and international scientific meetings. His current research interests include the synthesis of porphyrins and phthalocyanines with appropriate molecular properties, mainly for: photomedicine, photoinduced energy- and electron-transfer materials, optical (chemo)sensors and (photo)catalysis. Accordingly, he has been establishing an international network with several colleagues in these fields, being involved in national and international funded projects.

Rita C. Guedes

University of Lisbon, Portugal

Biography

Rita C. Guedes did her undergraduate studies in chemistry at University of Lisbon, where she also completed her PhD degree in chemistry (Computational/Physical Chemistry) in 2003. After that she moved to Sweden to work with Prof. Leif Eriksson (Uppsala and Örebro Universities). Since 2005 she is Assistant Professor in chemistry/computational chemistry at the department of medicinal chemistry at the University of Lisbon (school of Pharmacy). Rita Guedes leads the molecular modelling lab at iMed.ULisboa (Universidade de Lisboa) that identifies and optimizes small molecules to target proteins involved in inflammation, cancer and infectious diseases. Her research group uses computational methods like molecular docking, virtual screening, homology modelling, pharmacophore modelling, de novo design, molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanics calculations for drug discovery campaigns. She has published over 70 papers and supervised several Post-docs, PhDs, Masters and Project students (presently she supervises 1 post-doc, 6 PhD’s and 3 Masters students).

Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247) is an open access, PubMed indexed journal of medicinal chemistry and related drug sciences, published quarterly online by MDPI. Our aim is to publish updated reviews as well as research articles with comprehensive theoretical and experimental details. Following Scopus, the 3-year CiteScore tracker is 4.9 in 2016. The journal is now ranked #8/168 in Pharmaceutical Science and #21/158 in Molecular Medicine. Please see.

In 2018, Pharmaceuticals offers a *Travel Award* (800 CHF) to a PhD student. Please see. The application deadline is 28 February 2018, and the winner will be announced on 31 March 2018.