Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Ph.D. study

  1. General Information
  2. Entrance Examination
  3. Framework Study Plan
  4. Human Resources
  5. Research Groups

1. General Information

  • Form of study:

full-time / combined

  • Language of study:

Czech / English

  • Standard length of study:

4 years

  • Form of entrance examination:

oral

  • Validity of accreditation:

until 22nd May 2029

  • Education field:

Pharmacy (100 %)

Study Program Characteristics

Pharmaceutical chemistry provides a comprehensive picture of drugs and chemical substances. Pharmaceutical chemistry is the interdisciplinary science, the bridge between chemical (inorganic and organic chemistry, physical chemistry) and biological disciplines (pharmacognosy, chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, microbiology, toxicology). Understanding of structure-activity relationships of biological active compounds, brings to all graduates of this studies the independent role in all fields of pharma research.

Information on Graduate Employment

Understanding and study of structure and activity relationships in biological active compounds enable the absolvents of this studium an independent activity in all fields of pharmaceutical research. Appreciation of Pharmaceutical Chemistry with other knowledge enable to draw not only the prediction of biological activity, but other important properties for the manipulation, storage and practical use of drugs; it provides complex knowledge necessary for the erudite cooperation of pharmaceutical chemist with other specialists in the field of pharmaceutical research or pharmaceutical industry.      

2. Entrance Examination

Framework Content of the Entrance Examination

Oral exam from the knowledge of chemistry, biological activities of drugs, theory of pharmaceutical chemistry.

English language exam for English language knowledge assessment (C1 at least).

Conditions of Admission

  1. Admission to Doctoral studies is conditioned by successful completion of a Master's study programme.
  2. Successful passed the entrance exam.

Additional Conditions for Bonus Points (e.g. Practice)

  • Successfully completed university studies in pharmacy, chemistry (rated 2 points).
  • Diploma thesis similar with respect to the proposed Ph.D. studies of the candidate (rated 3 points).
  • Indication of the supposed training center and the approval of a specific supervisor with the management of the planned doctoral project (rated max. 5 points).

Criteria for the Evaluation Exams

  1.  Professional knowledge level – reviewed on answers to questions stated in General content of entrance exam (max. up to 10 points)
  2. Submitted doctoral project – evaluation of project complexity, modern methodological approaches to solution, and the continuity of the project on topics already discussed by the Subject Area Board (max. up to 10 points)

The minimum admission limit is 20 points.

The Dean decides to accept the applicant(s) who have fulfilled the conditions of the admission procedure and, according to the number of points achieved, ranked in the order corresponding to the predetermined number of accepted applicants for the particular program.

Dates

3. Framework Study Plan

Study obligations

Individual study plan is formed from this list:

  • Physical Organic Chemistry – obligatory subject
  • Passing exams in English language (GDEAJ1) - obligatory subject, or adequate certificate is needed
  • General pharmaceutical chemistry – optional obligatory subject
  • Chemical drugs preparation - optional obligatory subject
  • Computer-aided drug design - optional obligatory subject
  • Representative chapters from Pharmaceutical chemistry - optional obligatory subject
  • Representative chapters from Microbiology - optional obligatory subject
  • Representative chapters from Photophysics - optional obligatory subject

The final selection is consulted with the mentor. Education is based on recommended lectures, seminars, consultations or recommended literature self-study.

English language is a part of study plan, but it is not special discipline in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, it is not a part of obligatory special subjects. Student can enroll and pass the related subjects from other programs according the individual study plan.

State exam from Pharmaceutical chemistry and Ph.D. thesis defense is obligatory at the end of study course.

Publication activity requirements

Scientific project application (for example GA UK competition), presentation of results (posters, lectures) on faculty doctoral student scientific conference is needed, on international symposia (Joint Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry, etc.) is recommended.

Publication of results in impacted journals. Two first-author publication is needed in impacted journals, or only one first-author publication in journal with IF more 5 and/or listed in the first decyl.

Requirements for completing internships

Internship (ERASMUS+, bilateral cooperation or similar mobility) is a part of individual study plan, 3-5 months length is recommended. The Paul Ehrlich MedChem Euro-PhD certificate testifies that the student has (i) undertaken international research training and (ii) has completed and published a piece of research at an internationally competitive level (rules see at http://www.pehrlichmedchem.eu/). The Paul Ehrlich MedChem Euro-PhD certificate is complementary to the local PhD degree obtained from the student’s home university, is in no way in collision with national regulations and represents an added-value to a national PhD degree.

Other study obligations

Teaching (practical classes, seminars in Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Technology of synthetic drugs, diploma-thesis mentoring) is allowed and recommended, maximum 6 hrs/week, or 24 hrs/month.

Dissertation themes

  • Examples of successfully defended dissertations
    • Preparation of Pyrazinamide Derivatives as Potential Antiinfectives. (Study of Structure Activity Relationships)
    • Derivatives of pyrazinecarboxylic acid as potential antimycobacterial active drugs.
    • Study of azaphthalocyanines as fluorescence quenchers in oligodeoxynucleotide probes
    • Investigation of the compounds influencing the melting temperature of oligonucleotide probes
    • Synthesis of anionic phthalocyanines as potential photodynamic active photosensitizers
  • Themes of defended dissertations - Thesis repository
  • List of current doctoral dissertation themes

State Doctoral Examination

State Exam Pharmaceutical Chemistry Questions:  

  • Nomenclature of drugs
  • Factors influencing drug action. Chemical structure of drugs as fundamental prerequisite for their biological effect. The importance of physicochemical propertied for drug action
  • Chemical structure and its importance for the biotransformation of drugs.
  • Rational drug design and the knowledge of drug metabolism.
  • Stereochemical aspects of drug action.
  • Pharmaceutical chemistry aspects of drugs affecting central nerve system, peripheral nerve system and autonomic nerve system.
  • Pharmaceutical chemistry aspects of drugs affecting cardiovascular and blood system.
  • Pharmaceutical chemistry aspects of drugs affecting digest and excretory system.
  • Pharmaceutical chemistry aspects of drugs affecting bacterial and viral infections. Pharmaceutical chemistry aspects of drugs affecting cancer diseases.
  • Pharmaceutical chemistry aspects of drugs affecting vitamin and hormone system.                                       

4. Human Resources

Subject Area Board

Subject Area Board Chair and study program guarantor

  • prof. PharmDr. Martin Doležal, Ph.D.

Members of Subject Area Board

  • doc. PharmDr. Oldřich Farsa, Ph.D.
  • doc. PharmDr. Radim Kučera, Ph.D.
  • doc. PharmDr. Ivan Malík, Ph.D.
  • doc. PharmDr. Miroslav Miletín, Ph.D.
  • doc. PharmDr. Kamil Musílek, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Radim Nencka, Ph.D.
  • doc. PharmDr. Veronika Nováková, Ph.D.
  • prof. RNDr. Milan Pour, Ph.D.
  • doc. Ing. Stanislav Rádl, CSc.
  • doc. PharmDr. Jaroslav Roh, Ph.D.
  • prof. RNDr. Jarmila Vinšová, CSc.
  • prof. PharmDr. Petr Zimčík, Ph.D.
  • doc. PharmDr. Jan Zitko, Ph.D.

Other supervisors other than the members of the Subject Are Board

  • PharmDr. Marta Kučerová, Ph.D.

5. Research Groups

Research groups lead by supervisors of doctoral study program Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Syntheses of potential drugs and study of relationships between their chemical structure, biological activity and toxicity

Design and Development of New Antimicrobial Agents
Group leader: prof. PharmDr. Martin Doležal, Ph.D.

Azaphthalocyanine group
Group leader: prof. PharmDr. Petr Zimčík, Ph.D.

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