MCP

Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology

MCP

Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology

MCP

Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology

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Who we are

Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology (MCP) is located at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the University of Barcelona. MCP is a multidisciplinary group that combine expertise in organic and medicinal chemistry and in pharmacology. Thus, we are experts in: fundamental reactivity and synthetic development; hit discovery regarding specific targets; hit to lead optimization; perform in vitro and in vivo experiments in relevant models of diseases; advanced steps related to improvement of PK/PD parameters; industrial refinement of approved drugs, intellectual protection, etc.

MCP is managed by the experienced full professors at the University of Barcelona: Mercè Pallàs, Rodolfo Lavilla, Carmen Escolano, Diego Muñoz-Torrero and Santiago Vázquez. The five groups have their own funding and independent research but, importantly, share common goals, lab space, equipment, expenses, etc. and collaborate among them in a number of public and private funded projects. Also, the team has steady collaborations with external partners in several fields.

This permanent staff is completed with postdocs, which lead their own research and help tutoring  PhDs and MS students in the group. Also, we steadily have a flow of foreign students (Erasmus, exchange deals, collaborations, etc.). The group has relevant impact at the academic level, with presence in conferences, editorial boards, invited lectures around the world, sounding collaborations, projects, etc.

Research Groups

News

Selected Projects

  • “Dual-acting molecules as an innovative strategy to treat pain”. Caixaresearch Consolidate, “La Caixa Banking Foundation”, CI22-10176. Amount: 300.000 €. 2022-2024. PI: Santiago Vázquez (UB).
  • “Phosphoiminoproline LPIP, a disease-modifying drug for Alzheimers disease”. Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain). Projects I+D+i (SPAIN). Proof of concept 2022. PDC2022-133441-I00. Amount: 132.250,00 €. 2022. PIs: Carmen Escolano (UB), Rodolfo Lavilla (UB).
  • “Analysis of TREX2 role in atopic dermatitis and evaluation as potential therapeutic target”. National Eczema Association (USA). NEA GRANT ID: NEA21-IMP1XX. Amount: 150.000,00 €. 2022. Coordinator: C. Soler-Prat (UB). PI: Rodolfo Lavilla (UB).
  • “Noves molecules duals: una estratègia innovadora pel tractament del dolor crònic.” PRODUCTE (AGAUR; Generalitat de Catalunya), 2021 PROD 00181. Amount: 99.986,25 €. 2022-2024 PI: Santiago Vázquez (UB).
  • “Una nova classe de compostos que bloquegen múltiples mecanismes inicials de malalties neurodegeneratives”. LLAVOR (AGAUR; Generalitat de Catalunya), 2021 LLAV 00082. Amount: 20.000,00 €. 2022-2023 .PI: Diego Muñoz-Torrero (UB).
  • “Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative diseases” 2021 SGR 00357. Recerca (AGAUR) del Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Amount: 60.000 €. 2021-2024. Coordinator: Carmen Escolano (UB).
  • “A new pan-coronavirus therapeutic concept to address present and future infections: targeted degradation of the conserved 3CLpro”. Fundació La Marató de TV3, 202135-30. Amount: 300.000 €. 2021-2023. PI: Santiago Vázquez (UB).
  • “Tackling neuropathic pain with first-in-class dual agents”. Caixaimpulse Validate, “La Caixa Banking Foundation”, CI20-00147. Amount: 100.000 €. 2021-2022. PI: Santiago Vázquez (UB).
  • “Síntesis de compuestos con mecanismos innovadores contra enfermedades neurodegenerativas y dolor neuropático”. Ministry of Science and Innovation (SPAIN). PID2020-118127RB-I00. Amount: 272.250 €. 2020-2023. PIs: Diego Muñoz-Torrero (UB) and Santiago Vázquez (UB).
  • “Ca2+-Dependent block by memantine and selective inhibition of overactive NMDA”. National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA), 135148-2 (subaward of the Federal Award 11R01AG065594-01A1). Amount: 187.580 USD for this subaward (2.823.576 USD for the project). 2020-2025. PI subaward: Santiago Vázquez (UB). PI Coordinator: Jon W. Johnson (U. Pittsburgh, USA).
  • “Channel block and gating of NMDA receptors”. National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA). 132420-2 (subaward of the Federal Award No 2R01GM128195-26A1). Amount: 71.376 USD for subaward (1.571.418 USD for the project). 2019-2022. PI subaward: Santiago Vázquez (UB). PI Coordinator: Jon W. Johnson (U. Pittsburgh, USA).
  • “Multicomponent Reactions: Discovery, development and Biomedical Applications”. Ministry of Science and Innovation (SPAIN). PID2019-107991RB-I00. Amount: 108.900 €. 2020-2022. PIs: Rodolfo Lavilla (UB), Carmen Escolano (UB).
  • “Nous compostos d’acció dual per al tractament de malalties neurodegeneratives”. LLAVOR (AGAUR; Generalitat de Catalunya), 2019 LLAV 00017. Amount: 20.000,00 €. 2020-2021 PI: Diego Muñoz-Torrero (UB).
  • “Discovery of innovative drugs against viral respiratory infections”. Fundació La Marató de TV3, 202135-30. Amount: 279.791 €. 2019-2022. PI: Santiago Vázquez (UB).
  • “Development of new inhibitors of the anion channel LRR8/VRAC, a key player in stroke”. Fundació La Marató de TV3 (SPAIN). 247/C/2017. Amount: 299.936,53 €. 2018-2020. Coordinator: R. Estévez Povedano (IDIBELL). PI: Rodolfo Lavilla (UB).
  • “Novel compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders”. Caixaimpulse Validate, “La Caixa Baking Foundation”, CI18-00002. Amount: 70.000 €. 2018-2020. PIs: Carmen Escolano and Mercè Pallàs (UB).
  • “Synthesis of compounds with innovative mechanisms for neurodegenerative diseases. Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (SPAIN). SAF2017-82711-R. Amount: 121.000 €. 2018-2020. PIs: Diego Muñoz-Torrero (UB) and Santiago Vázquez (UB).