PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY

Pharmaceutical Analysis

Head of Thematic unit: Dr. Stanley Ndwigah

Welcome to the Pharmaceutical Chemistry thematic unit.

We carry out teaching of various aspects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry to both undergraduate and postgraduate Pharmacy students. The academic staff comprises of specialists in Pharmaceutical Analysis, Medicinal Chemistry, Radiopharmacy Spectroscopy and crystallography.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy students take the Pharmaceutical Chemistry course from the first year up to fifth year. The unit also houses Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Pharmacy programs in Pharmaceutical Analysis. In addition, the staff are actively involved in teaching of other postgraduate courses within the Department of Pharmacy.

We spearhead research in different disciplines of pharmacy. Currently, active research areas include Pharmaceutical Analysis, Phytochemistry and Product Development. The unit also houses the Drug Analysis and Research Unit (DARU) which offers analytical services to the Pharmaceutical industry in Kenya and the East African region. DARU is actively involved in research in analytical methods development, comparative dissolution studies and market surveillance for pharmaceuticals, herbals, foods, beverages and related products.

Consultancy services in product development, stability studies and regulatory affairs are undertaken upon request. These services have helped the unit to foster a strong link with the pharmaceutical industry in Kenya and abroad.

The unit is endowed with a good complement of analytical and other scientific equipment acquired through the University kitty or collaborative projects with universities, research institutions and partners.

The unit has an elaborate network of international collaborations and links with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of Western Cape (South Africa) and regionally with Makerere and Dar es Salaam Universities.

We humbly invite potential collaborators, students and clients to pay us a visit or otherwise make enquiries, suggestions and other input towards improving our status and services.

Overview

Welcome to the Pharmaceutical Chemistry thematic unit.

We carry out teaching of various aspects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry to both undergraduate and postgraduate Pharmacy students. The academic staff comprises of specialists in Pharmaceutical Analysis, Medicinal Chemistry, Radiopharmacy Spectroscopy and crystallography.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy students take the Pharmaceutical Chemistry course from the first year up to fifth year. The unit also houses Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Pharmacy programs in Pharmaceutical Analysis. In addition, the staff are actively involved in teaching of other postgraduate courses within the Department of Pharmacy.

We spearhead research in different disciplines of pharmacy. Currently, active research areas include Pharmaceutical Analysis, Phytochemistry and Product Development. The unit also houses the Drug Analysis and Research Unit (DARU) which offers analytical services to the Pharmaceutical industry in Kenya and the East African region. DARU is actively involved in research in analytical methods development, comparative dissolution studies and market surveillance for pharmaceuticals, herbals, foods, beverages and related products.

Consultancy services in product development, stability studies and regulatory affairs are undertaken upon request. These services have helped the unit to foster a strong link with the pharmaceutical industry in Kenya and abroad.

The unit is endowed with a good complement of analytical and other scientific equipment acquired through the University kitty or collaborative projects with universities, research institutions and partners.

The unit has an elaborate network of international collaborations and links with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of Western Cape (South Africa) and regionally with Makerere and Dar es Salaam Universities.

We humbly invite potential collaborators, students and clients to pay us a visit or otherwise make enquiries, suggestions and other input towards improving our status and services.

Thematic Units

Pharmaceutical Analysis

This thematic area deals with quality control of Pharmaceuticals and related products. The unit offers analytical services to Pharmaceutical industries, government agencies, Pharmaceutical importers and distributors as the Drug Analysis and Research Unit (DARU)

Training in this thematic area is offered at undergraduate (B. Pharm) and post graduate levels. Relevant post graduate programmes have been mounted to build capacity within the country and the region. The Postgraduate programmes offered under the Pharmaceutical Analysis thematic area include;

The unit has highly qualified members of staff to carry out teaching, research and service provision in Pharmaceutical Analysis.

Career opportunities

The students upon successful completion of the master’s programme will have the necessary skills and competencies to find employment in a wide range of institutions such as hospitals, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, private research institutions, local and national government authorities and agencies.

Research and Projects

The thematic unit supports both postgraduate and undergraduate student’s research by providing facilities and supervision in carrying cutting edge research in pharmaceutical analysis. The Drug Analysis and Research Unit is testimony to top-notch research undertaken by the Department.

Alumni

All B.Pharm graduates are alumni of the Pharmaceutical Chemistry thematic unit. The alumni are listed at the School of Pharmacy website.

The unit prides itself for being the premier institution to offer a postgraduate degree in Pharmacy in Kenya.

2 Medicinal Chemistry

This Thematic area deals with chemistry, design and synthesis of biologically active compounds. The unit carries out in vitro and in vivo testing of bioactive compounds of natural origin as well as synthetic compounds. Training in this thematic area is offered at undergraduate (B. Pharm) level. Masters degree in medicinal Chemistry is under development.

Career opportunities

Medicinal chemistry is the application of chemical research techniques to the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Earlier medicinal chemists were primarily concerned with the creation of new synthetic drug compounds. Medicinal chemistry is almost always geared toward drug discovery and development.

The students upon successful completion of the master’s programme will have the necessary skills and competencies to find employment in a wide range of institutions such as hospitals, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, private research institutions, local and national government authorities and agencies.

Research and Projects

The thematic unit supports both postgraduate and undergraduate student’s research by providing facilities and supervision in carrying out the isolation of compounds from plants and testing the same for pharmacological activity.

Alumni

All B.Pharm graduates are alumni of the Medicinal Chemistry thematic unit. The alumni are listed at the School of Pharmacy website.

C) Radiopharmacy

This thematic area of radiopharmacy provides students comprehensive training and the opportunity to acquire the scientific knowledge, technical skills and professional judgment required to promote patient care through assurance of the safe and efficacious use of radiopharmaceuticals and ancillary medications for diagnosis and therapy.

Additionally the programme is geared to the development of professionals who can solve problems, think logically and work independently or collaboratively to conduct research that will add to the knowledge base in nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceutical science. Training in this thematic area is offered at undergraduate (B. Pharm) level. Postgraduate programmes are under development.

Link

BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY (BDS) - 5