Medicinal Chemistry for Cancer Graduate Programme

1+3 year MSc / DPhil

1 year MSc

Successful applicants for this four-year programme have an exciting opportunity to train for an Oxford doctorate with leading cancer research and medicinal chemistry teams. The University of Oxford is one of five centres in the UK receiving funding from Cancer Research UK to sponsor graduate students through the programme, comprising a one-year taught component leading to a Master’s degree and a three-year research component leading to a DPhil. Two CRUK studentships are available each year for the four-year programme.

Applications for the one-year stand-alone MSc course will be considered, although applicants should note that the CRUK studentships are not available to applicants applying only for the MSc. The Graduate Finance Guide provides information on the cost of this course (University and College fees, living costs). Students accepted onto the MSc course who do not receive one of the CRUK studentships are eligible to apply for any available graduate studentship for a DPhil placement, but are not guaranteed a place.

The cross-disciplinary nature of the programme is highlighted by the involvement of the following centres, all within the University of Oxford:

University Department of Pharmacology

University Department of Clinical Pharmacology

University Department of Chemistry

Sir William Dunn School of Pathology

University Department of Biochemistry

Radiation Oncology and Biology

Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine

Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine

Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics

Oxford is an excellent centre to pursue this research. There are University research groups at the international forefront of medicinal chemistry development, and also high profile research groups leading outstanding innovative cancer biology. In addition Oxford has an enviable reputation in translational cancer research, and promising new therapeutic agents emerging from this programme could rapidly undergo thorough and effective clinical testing on site.

•    To train future champions of research, capable of leading integrated projects that synthesise and characterise new chemical agents aimed at imaginative cancer targets.

•    To encourage collaboration between Departments through joint supervision of cross-disciplinary research projects, enabling synergy from bringing together expertise.

The programme has a one-year taught course (including two short research projects), which leads to an MSc. For those successful in obtaining a CRUK studentship, successful completion of the MSc will automatically guarantee a DPhil placement. The DPhil consists of a three-year research project under the supervision of a Chemist and a Biologist.

Students accepted onto the MSc course who do not receive one of the CRUK studentships are eligible to apply for any available graduate studentship for a DPhil placement, but are not guaranteed a place.

MSc Taught Course (year 1)

Terms 1 and 2: A combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars & practical classes in Pharmacology, Aromatic and Heterocyclic Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Cancer Biology. For those who have already carried out advanced study of these areas, equivalent modules may be available.

Terms 2 and 3 and Long Vacation: Students will choose their 10-week research projects, complete the projects and write up results.

Students will be allocated a laptop and a space in the Pharmacology Department for their MSc year. They will have a dedicated mentor during this year and will have both a chemistry and biology supervisor for each of the research elements. There will also be a series of tutorials throughout the first two terms with leading cancer biologists and structural biologists outlining possible novel cancer targets and assessing appropriate drug design. Students will be associated with a specific Oxford college and have a college advisor for more general supervision and pastoral care.

A typical 36 month research project would entail the following:

•    Student discusses the project extensively with the biologists, including important members of the biology research group, and sketches out a strategy for drug design.

•    Student discusses proposal in depth with a medicinal chemist to be sure the general approach is feasible. If everything looks good the student may confirm this project as their choice.

•    Project initiates; student spends 2-3 months with biology research group learning biological techniques and understanding the biological rationale behind the choice of cancer target. Student defines a hypothesis to test during the 3-year project, that will show whether the cancer target can be inhibited and whether it provides a good site for therapeutic intervention

•    Student develops an assay to measure activity of the target molecules, in cells, biological tissues or cancer biopsies.

•    Design prototype drug molecule, synthesise and characterize it using medicinal chemistry skills.  Test activity of the drug in the assay system and check biological effects.

•    Student designs improved drug structure using a reiterative approach, developing computer simulations to maximize drug activity.

•    Promising lead candidates undergo assessment of anticancer activity using appropriate cell models, enabling testing of biological hypothesis. Successful agents prioritized for further development.

If any additional information is required, or for general discussion, please contact Professor Len Seymour on 01865 617040 or email medchem@pharm.ox.ac.uk

Information about Research Projects

Potential Supervisors

Information for Applicants