Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry (MNPC) is a discipline encompassing the design, synthesis and testing of new medicinal agents. The research emphasis in MNPC at Iowa includes a strong synthetic medicinal chemistry component offered by Professors Olivo, Jin, and Kerns. Research in these labs involves the development of new synthetic methodologies to construct anti-cancer and anti -viral agents (Jin and Olivo), the design and synthesis of novel anti-infective and anti-cancer agents (Kerns). The broader emphasis at Iowa includes faculty focused on drug metabolism, carcinogenesis and chemical toxicology (Duffel and Doorn), signal transduction (Roman), biocatalysis (Olivo, Duffel, Doorn, Kerns and Rice), neurochemistry (Doorn), novel drug target development (Roman) and the development of gene delivery systems (Rice).

The coursework in MNPC is a reflection of the breadth of scientific interest in the program. Students design a course of study which includes core courses in synthesis, spectroscopy, enzymology, pharmacology, analytical chemistry, toxicology and drug design as well as elective courses to maintain breadth and achieve depth in one of the research areas described above.