Chemist Michael D. VanHeyst Shares Insights about upcoming GSK University of Chicago Symposium
On Friday, August 16th, The University of Chicago Department of Chemistry will host the GSK-University of Chicago Symposium.
The day long symposium will feature panels and talks from GSK specials, a keynote talk from Professor Andy Thomas of Texas A&M University, and a poster session by UChicago grad students and post docs (see below for the full schedule).
GSK, or GlaxoSmithKline, is a global healthcare company based in London that has long specialized in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. As one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, their work focuses on research and development across a range of therapeutic areas, including respiratory, oncology, immunology, and infectious diseases.
We spoke with Michael D. VanHeyst, a medicinal chemist and team leader at GSK, about the symposium and the company’s motivations for partnering with UChicago.
What are the primary goals of the GSK University of Chicago Symposium?
The primary objectives of the GSK University of Chicago Symposium are encapsulated in our mission statement, which is to cultivate and maintain a synergistic alliance with the wider scientific community. This is in line with GSK's core principles of patient-centricity, scientific excellence, technological advancement, and personnel development. Our commitment is underpinned by the following key strategies:
1. Nurturing long-lasting professional relationships with all stakeholders at the University, encompassing faculty, and students.
2. Implementing robust communication channels to build trust, share scientific knowledge, and provide industry exposure to budding scientists.
How does GSK view its partnership with academic institutions like the University of Chicago in terms of advancing research and innovation?
GSK perceives its collaboration with academic institutions such as the University of Chicago as a pivotal element in propelling research and innovation. We recognize academia as the epicenter of scientific progress, consistently providing a vital source of creativity and innovation that aligns with our ongoing commitment to developing transformative medicines for patients. Concurrently, GSK offers a practical perspective by defining the challenges we aim to address and seeks to collaborate with subject matter experts to expedite the drug development process. This symbiotic relationship mutually benefits both parties, thereby driving the advancement of medicine and innovation.
What topics or areas of research will be the main focus during the symposium?
The main areas of focus will be the major chemistry disciplines: Organic, Physical Organic, Computational, Analytical.GSK will be represented by individuals from Discovery Chemistry, Process Chemistry, Encoded Technologies, Computational Chemistry, and Modality Capabilities
How does GSK plan to leverage the discussions and collaborations from the symposium in its ongoing research and development efforts?
GSK recognizes academia as a crucial hub for scientific progress, and we are continually seeking opportunities to integrate innovative scientific methodologies into our daily operations. We anticipate that the insights garnered from the symposium will be promptly disseminated within GSK and applied to our ongoing programs.
Specifically, from a Discovery Chemistry standpoint, we are persistently exploring novel bond disconnections to expand chemical diversity. This approach facilitates the exploration of multiple vectors of molecules, thereby advancing our drug discovery efforts. The symposium will undoubtedly contribute valuable insights to these endeavors.
GSK University of Chicago Symposium
August 16th
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
GCIS 301-303
Schedule
GSK Panel - 9:10 am
GSK Talks - 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Lunch 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
GSK Talks 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Keynote Talk (Prof. Thomas) - 3:00 pm -4:30 pm
Poster Talks - 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm