Purdue Looking To Expand Drug Discovery Programs

Purdue University is looking to further expand its drug discovery programs in an effort which the University believes will benefit all of its students and faculty. While Purdue’s drug discovery program isn’t new, the university has been making some key investments to support future endeavors in drug discovery. The school is focused on adding more funds to biology, chemistry, and other scientific programs which will aid in the development of new drugs. Purdue hopes that the process will eventually lead to a drug or treatment which could reward the University financially and could broaden its drug design portfolio. Even more importantly, Purdue's President, Mitch Daniels, believes the program could affect a large number of people. “These are areas of such importance that if great breakthroughs occurred, they literally would change the world and change lives,” said Daniels.

For one, the school is planning on opening a new $28 million building dedicated to drug discovery later this year. Purdue is also entering into a partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital, which will develop and test drugs initially designed by the University. According to Purdue’s president, Mitch Daniels, “Purdue has a tremendous basic research capability, but we do not have a medical school. We need partners to translate our discoveries into new medicines and new technologies that save and improve lives. It is a great affirmation of the work done at Purdue that one of the preeminent research hospitals in the world has chosen to partner with us." Houston Methodist is one of the top clinical trial hospitals in the world and is often the source of new clinical innovations. By partnering with Houston Medical, Purdue will be able to “really complete the entire journey from discovery to delivery,” Philip Low, Purdue’s Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, says.  

Purdue has already had some success developing drugs that treat ovarian and lung cancers. The University discovered and patented Vynfinit, sometimes known as Vintafolide. Low, who also heads the school's drug discovery center, said that the research process was still a difficult one. “I come up with an idea and I assign it to a graduate student or a post-doc and they explore. And to be honest with you, I expect that most of my ideas are going to fail,” said Low. However, the struggle is worth it in order to give Purdue notoriety in the drug discovery field. “Everything that’s discovered in my laboratory is patented by Purdue University. There’s a reputation that comes with having discovered and developed a new drug. It establishes Purdue as one of the preeminent universities in the country.”

Drug discovery is one of the top 10 targeted priorities in the Purdue Moves initiative, which aims to enhance the university’s global impact and to create educational opportunities for students.