User:EFMC

Introduction to EFMC
The European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) (www.efmc.info) is an independent association founded in 1970. Free from any political convictions, it represents the scientific organisations from 23 European countries and covers a geographical area the size of the USA with a similar scientific population. Its objective is to advance the science of Medicinal Chemistry by promoting cooperation and encouraging strong links between the National Adhering Organisations, in order to deepen contacts and exchanges between medicinal chemists in Europe and around the World. Moreover, it offers medicinal chemists the opportunity to present their work internationally by organising the biennial International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC-ISMC). These symposia, with an average attendance of 1,200 delegates, are highly international with a broad range of speakers and attendees representing well in excess of 40 countries. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry, EFMC is publishing MedChemComm, the official journal of EFMC. MedchemComm is a peer reviewed journal publishing concise articles and reviews covering medicinal chemistry research.

The EFMC pursues its activities via the Executive Committee (EC), the Council, and 3 Committees devoted to Education and Training,Industry Liaison and Information & Communication. These Committees strengthen the links between Council and EC and help to define the mission, vision and goals of EFMC. A Scientific Advisory Board, composed of internationally highly recognized opinion leader in the field of medicinal chemistry, assists in strategic planning and ensures a dynamic and vibrant advancement of EFMC.

The EFMC has very strong links with the Medicinal Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society. Through this collaboration the ACS convenes sessions for the biennial ISMC Symposia, and conversely the EFMC convenes sessions for ACS National meetings. In addition, the two societies regularly exchange observers at their committee meetings. Furthermore, the EFMC has an ex officio representative on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. EFMC also has strong links with the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS) and with the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS). Furthermore, EFMC reaches out to former USSR and Eastern European scientists through its successful series of ASMC Symposia, organised with the support of ChemBridge Corporation, in Russia or in Ukraine. In addition, the EFMC also collaborates with the Asian Federation of Medicinal Chemistry by participating in meetings organised by the AFMC and vice versa, giving the EFMC a broad international footprint.

An important part of the EFMC activities is sponsorship of national scientific meetings and Medicinal Chemistry Schools. Supported by Bentham, it also awards bursaries for younger scientists to attend ISMC meetings. The EFMC also acknowledges the excellence of medicinal chemists’ work, by conferring three major awards: the Nauta Award on Pharmacochemistry, the UCB-Ehrlich Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry and the Prous Institute-Overton and Meyer Award for New Technologies in Drug Discovery, which are given every two years for outstanding achievements in the field of Medicinal Chemistry. From 2010 on, EFMC established two new prizes to acknowledge the scientific accomplishments of young medicinal chemists, both in industry and academia.

The EFMC homepage is now hot-wired to the web sites of many national organisations, thus facilitating the flow of information. The e-newsletter MedChemWatch as well as the yearbook “Medicinal Chemistry in Europe” help to further develop cooperation between member organisations as well as their industrial partners and therefore advance medicinal chemistry in Europe, and by extension, around the globe.

International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC-ISMC)
This symposium traditionally attracts experts in drug research and development, in particular medicinal and synthetic chemists, combinatorial chemists, molecular modelers, pharmacologists, as well as development chemists. It is is recognized worldwide as one of the leading Medicinal Chemistry meetings, as proven by its large international attendance.