This research course includes the design, synthesis, evaluation and use of biologically-active molecules with the potential for use as drugs in a clinical setting. Also included is the extraction, purification and characterisation of potential therapeutic agents from natural sources, particularly plants (a discipline often referred to as Pharmacognosy). Medicinal chemistry is multidisciplinary in nature encompassing research in computation and informatics, synthetic organic chemistry, analytical science, clinical and analytical biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and formulation science, and a wide range of other topics. Collaboration and translation are essential for drug discovery teams to be successful and medicinal chemists collaborate with other researchers from Keele University, other universities and institutions within the UK and internationally. A wide range of research facilities and state-of-the-art equipment are available in purpose-built laboratories in the Huxley Building, the Lennard-Jones Laboratories, the Jack Ashley Building and the Guy Hilton Research Centre (Hartshill, Hospital site).