Cancer is a monstrous disease. Imagine if one drug could change the way cancer is treated.SciTech Now visited the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD), where research is being conducted on numerous drug compounds to be used in cancer studies. We sat down with CIDD Director Dr. Stanton F. McHardy, who spoke about the innovative research projects happening inside his lab.
Located at the University of Texas at San Antonio, CIDD in partnership with UT Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) are working closely with researchers and UTSA students to develop drug compounds to be used in cancer and schizophrenic studies. Small molecule organics with drug-like properties are synthesized at the CIDD lab. Their partner, UTHSCSA, will then test the molecules on various biological systems to see if they have any affect. The partnership between the two has created a model that can easily be implemented in other states.
“What’s unique about it is … the facilities are a balance of basic research and more applied pharmaceutical drug discovery type of research. You see resources, equipment and techniques that aren’t necessarily just used in industry or academics. It’s sort of a blend,” said Dr. Stanton McHardy.
With over $3.6 million in donated funds, the center is home to some state-of-the-art instruments used in organic chemistry. The objective of the lab is to produce a drug compound that can one day be sold on shelves.
“If we can have an impact on any particular type of cancer-- that’s what we’re here for,” said Dr. Stanton McHardy
Catch this fascinating episode of SciTech Now on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. on KLRN.
