Mission:
To conduct multidisciplinary research on some of the most important human health issues of our time with the goal of identifying preclinical drug candidates, and ultimately, novel and effective drugs to positively impact lives.
Motto:
Novae Moleculae ad Meliorem Valetudinem
New Molecules for Better Health
History:
The Center for Drug Design was conceived by Robert Vince, PhD, medicinal chemist and drug discovery researcher at the University of Minnesota. He is the holder of dozens of patents in the anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-microbial fields. One of his most significant contributions was the design of carbovir, a potent anti-HIV/AIDS drug; commercially available and sold as Ziagen® by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Company. With the guiding principle of uniting high-level research with the design and development of highly effective drugs, Dr. Vince obtained the approval of Senior Vice President, Frank Cerra, MD, and the Council of Deans (Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota) for the Center’s creation. On January 8, 2002, the Center for Drug Design was established as a center of excellence in drug design and research.
As part of the College of Pharmacy, the CDD combines the best of academic tradition with an expectation of innovation and independence, to inspire and drive our Center members to excel, and to provide value for the academic and research community.
CDD personnel have been awarded grants, published papers in peer-reviewed journals, received invitations to give scientific presentations, received research recognition awards, collaborated extensively across disciplines of study, and trained postdoctoral and undergraduate researchers who have gone on to careers around the world. The expanding scientific scope of CDD projects are shared within the community and are protected by patents as we drive towards bringing our discoveries to marketable use. The CDD engages in numerous collaborations within the University and with national and international laboratories.
Support of the 21st Century Endowment Fund:
Two central objectives for the Center for Drug Design are to develop novel drugs that will benefit people, and to translate scientific knowledge into practical application. When Professor Robert Vince developed carbovir, an antiviral AIDS drug, the University of Minnesota received a licensing fee from the sales of the drug and has used these resources for academic advancement. The funds generated have produced a wide and positive impact on the University community as a whole.
One important area of concentration has been graduate education. There are 185 graduate programs throughout the University's Graduate School, with almost 10,000 students enrolled. Income from the carbovir licensing agreement has spurred creation of the 21st Century Graduate Fellowship Endowment. This endowment fund provides fellowship to support education across the entire University of Minnesota. By offering these important fellowships, it allows the University to compete with other leading schools, to attract and train the best graduate students. Some of the funds within this endowment are the Strategic Research Fund, Strategic Research Endowment, the Graduate Fellowship fund, and the Graduate Fellowship Endowment. These are specified as matching funds, doubling the potential of donor gifts.