04/2014

In early April members of the CCHF were given the opportunity to participate in a number of events discussing and learning more about how C–H Functionalization impacts the Pharmaceutical Sciences. Through CCHF’s partnership with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Emory University was granted one of ten annual Novartis Symposiums.

This afternoon of chemistry included a presentation from Larry Hamann, Head of Early Discovery Chemistry at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Cambridge, describing some of the challenges facing drug discovery chemistry and how new technologies being developed are helping address these, a presentation from Prof. Tom Rovis from Colorado State University on new C–H Functionalization reactions catalyzed by Rh(III) and two presentations from CCHF student members Josh Alford and Erik Andreanski. With between 60-80 attendees we had an exciting afternoon of presentations.

On the day before Larry hosted a discussion panel with the full membership of the CCHF via video conference to talk about entering the pharmaceutical industry, describing his journey from small biotech to Novartis, answering questions about his experiences and some of the aspects about how students should prepare themselves for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.