The Natural Products Research Laboratories (NPRL) has established an exceptional
research program in rational drug discovery. Current research programs in the
NPRL include the following:

1. Medicinal Chemistry
2. Bioactive Natural Products
3. New Anticancer and Anti-AIDS Drug Discovery and Development
4. Chinese Medicine

Since 1971, the NPRL has discovered more than 2,000 novel bioactive natural products and analogs. These discoveries are used as new leads to develop future pharmaceutical agents in the same manner that numerous previously discovered bioactive natural products (including ephedrine, taxol, and artemisinin) were developed as current pharmaceutical agents to treat cancers and other diseases. Using basic medicinal chemistry principles coupled with modern technologies, including new computational techniques and new target-based and genomic evaluation methods, our newly discovered lead compounds will provide a solid foundation of potential chemotherapeutic drug candidates in the 21st century.

• Research Highlights
• Publications
• Patents
• UNC.edu
• UNC Pharmacy

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