The institute  of Pharmacy currently comprises 6 research groups working on fundamental and application-oriented issues related to drugs. The topics covered fall within the two main focus areas of the Department of Chemisty: drug discovery and materials/nanochemistry. Important cooperation partners include the Leibniz-Institute of Virology (LIV), the Borstel Research Center, and the Helmholtz Center HEREON. There is also a close collaboration with the UKE hospital pharmacy.

Pharmaceutical chemistry

Research group Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Maison

Research focuses on organic synthesis and the testing of the resulting structures in the fields of imaging (particularly tumor imaging) and the modulation of bacterial growth on material surfaces (infection research).  There is a wide range of methods employed going from the development of new synthetic methods through complex chemistry and surface analysis to biochemical and basic cell biology studies.

Research group Prof. Dr. Louisa Temme

We develop small-molecule and peptidic ligands as well as so-called tool compounds to understand and modulate protein functions at the molecular level. This knowledge forms the basis for innovative drugs with novel mechanisms of action. We investigate biologically and therapeutically challenging target structures, including complex ion channels, protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and kinases. These target structures hold enormous therapeutic potential as, for example, potential targets for contraceptives, anti-infectives, or anticancer drugs.

Pharmaceutical Technology

Research group Prof. Dr. Claudia Leopold

Tableting and coating
ePAT, continuous manufacturing, containment

Clinical Pharmacy

Research group Prof. Dr. Sebastian Wicha

Research focuses on optimizing and tailoring drug therapy for critically ill patients. To this end, the research group characterizes the quantitative relationships between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics developping stratified dosing recommendations. A key area of focus is anti-infective therapy. The range of methods extends from the development of bioanalytical assays for drug monitoring, through the conduct of preclinical PK-PD experiments, to the development of pharmacometric models (NONEM®) and dosing software (TDMx).

Pharmaceutical Biology and Microbiology

Research group Prof. Dr. B. Siewert

Our research group investigates light-activated natural products at the interface of pharmaceutical biology, natural product chemistry, and photobiology. We are particularly interested in fungal pigments: What roles do they play in nature, and how can their photoactivity be harnessed for new antimicrobial or antitumour strategies? To address these questions, we combine the development of screening methods with the isolation and chemical characterisation of natural photosensitisers and the investigation of their light-dependent biological effects. Our work to date highlights fungal anthraquinones as particularly promising lead structures for photodynamic drug discovery.

Pharmacology

Research group Prof. Dr. E. Oetjen (UKE University Hospital)

The Oetjen Research Group focuses on investigating the role of the kinase DLK in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the significance of the transcriptional coactivator CRTC1 in the development of cardiovascular diseases. A wide range of biochemical, molecular biological, and animal experimental methods is used in reseach.