my interest in medicinal chemistry
Drug discovery has always been known as a long and complex process. It might took more than 15 years from identifying the target molecule, discovering the potential drug candidate, until the drug comes to the end-user. Recently, with a rapid progress in computational method, such challenging process could be done in just a few years. However, the excess of information gained from such bioinformatics, molecular docking, and combinatorial chemistry, might in turn causes the global shortage of medicinal chemist. In fact, the expertise with real experiences and skills in liquid handling are still needed as the key person in drug design research. Conducting serial of laboratory tasks including chemical reactions, in-vitro in-vivo experiment, and clicinal trials are just a few of the required research skills nowadays. These challenges had encouraged me to apply the research Master Program of Medical and Pharmaceutical Drug Innovation at University of Groningen.
Ever studied in bachelor program at Department of Chemistry in Universitas Indonesia, I learnt that designing certain organic compounds could be as essential as breathing fresh air. Knowing that synthesis of compounds with interesting properties might save lives millions of people, I developed my interest in related organic chemistry courses. I got A score for Organic Chemistry II and A- for Physical Organic Chemistry classes. My final research projects also worked on the synthesis and of pyrazole-derived compound as a ligand for lanthanide complexes. Later I recognized that four years is not enough to fulfill my passion in field of synthetic chemistry, in which I decided to further deepen my knowledge about this topic in medicinal and pharmaceutical context.
When I found this research master program, it feels this program has a great suitability with my later interest in medicinal chemistry. The program equipped with solid curricula in medicinal chemistry and bioanalysis, along with strong research group in drug design, pharmaceutical analyisis, and analytical biochemistry. Two research group that I am mostly fascinated are Prof Alexander Domling's Drug Design group, that develops the Multi-Component Reaction (MCR) chemistry, which can bring the old-fashioned synthetic organic into the new era and offer vast potential for pharmaceutical industries, and Prof Angela Cassini's Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry, that studies the role of metallocomplexes in biological systems. This research-focused program will also give a huge benefit to significantly enhance my research skill, as well as a preliminary preparation before continuing into PhD. The opportunity to take the final research project in abroad is also attract me as it will broaden my network to getting know the many of the top researcher in the world. Furthermore, I strongly believe that University of Groningen will provide with an excellent network of people from different cultures and backgrounds and offer me lifetime opportunities to broaden my horizon.
Next after this program, I am eager to further advancing my research in PhD degree, before turning back into my native country as medicinal chemist researcher in academia. Working in academia give the advantage to open the chance for collaborating with another top foreign researcher, produce more scientific contribution, and transfer the knowledge to the younger generation. With a huge number of population, innovation in drug development as well as medical science will be crucial to leverage the quality of live of million peoples in Indonesia.
