Professor Ojima from the university of Stony Brook visited Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and delivered an academic lecture titled ‘Taxane-based Tumor-Targeting Chemotherapeutic Agents’ at the invitation of Professor Hong Liu on 16th November. The lecture focused on the progress and challenges in developing a new tumor-targeting drug delivery (TTDD) system consisting of a tumor recognition moiety and a cytotoxic warhead connected through a “smart” linker to form a conjugate. When a multi-functionalized nanomaterial is used as the vehicle, a “Trojan Horse” approach becomes possible for mass delivery of cytotoxic warheads to maximize the efficacy. The Ojima Laboratory has made greatcontributions in the novel molecular approaches to the design and discovery of “guided molecular missiles” for tumor-targeting chemotherapy.
The lecture intrigued a heat discussion between professor Ojima and the attendees. Ojima also expressed his willingness to cooperate with SIMM after the lecture.
Professor Ojima is director of institue of chemical biology & drug discovery (ICB&DD) at Stony Brook University, his research includes development of second-and third-generation taxoids, antithrombic agents, novel β-lactams, and fluorine-containing amino acids. He has published more than 290 papers and reviews in leading journals and applied more than 140 patents.

(Source: Professor LIU Hong’s group)