Chemical Biology McMaster University

Overview

Key Facts 

The main goal of the Chemical Biology program at McMaster University is to provide students with training that is at the interface of chemistry, biochemistry and biology, with a primary emphasis on understanding how the chemical biology approach can be used to solve complex biological problems such as the mechanisms of disease, the regulation of biological pathways and the roles of different biomolecules in controlling cellular function (or dysfunction). 

While research is carried out in a variety of areas, much of the work focusses on the areas of infection, imaging and interfaces. Degrees conferred within the program will require successful completion of a number of courses and a research thesis. 

In its broadest term, chemical biology is defined as the application of chemical principles to biochemistry and the medical sciences. Examples include therapeutics, drug delivery systems, medicinal chemistry, or structural biology, where in all cases the use of chemistry is central. Chemical biologists often rely on small molecules to investigate and control living systems. This common approach begs quite a few questions. Where do you get these molecules? What are the targets of these agents? How do you know that you are having an effect on the biological system being probed? Which specific targets are giving rise to the responses observed? The answers to these questions necessitate a multi-disciplinary approach that incorporates everything from synthetic and analytical chemistry to structural and molecular biology.