CHEM cluster
The CHEM cluster encompasses organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, natural products chemistry, chemical biology, bioconjugate chemistry, drug design and discovery, photochemistry, materials chemistry, and nanochemistry.
In organic chemistry, groups focus on the development of organic synthesis methodology, total synthesis of natural products, synthesis of fluorinated compounds, extended aromatic systems, and helicenes as well as on synthesis of modified derivatives and analogues of nucleosides, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, steroids, and peptides.
In medicinal chemistry, groups specialize in the development of antivirals (against hepatitis B and other emerging viruses), cytostatic agents against leukemia and different types of cancer, compounds targeting neuropathic pain and inflammation, antimicrobial agents, and antiparasitic compounds against malaria.
In bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology, different aspects of nucleic acids research, the study of protein-DNA interactions, development of new bioconjugation reagents and reactions, novel fluorescent probes, and bioimaging reagents and techniques are thoroughly investigated.
In materials chemistry, projects include the synthesis of functional molecules for the preparation of nanomaterials, modified surfaces and materials for molecular electronics, the study of singlet fission, the study of molecules and reactions on metal surfaces, and the design and synthesis of modified nanodiamonds and molecular machines.