Currently, there are 32 doctoral supervisors, 24 master’s supervisors and 8 adjunct supervisors. It has a high level teaching and research team led by Changjiang Scholars, Distinguished Young Scholars and Renowned Teachers together with young and middle-aged supervisors. It optimizes all the resources and platforms to lay a solid foundation and provide strong support to graduate education. In recent years, great achievements have been made and a number of prizes have been awarded: 1 National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation and 2 nominated 2 Provincial Excellent Doctoral Dissertations of Jiangsu, 6 Provincial Excellent Master's Degree Theses of Jiangsu and 61 masters supported by the Research Innovation Program for College Graduates of Jiangsu Province.
Pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy focuses on the study of quality evaluation, therapeutic materials, resource utilization, and product development of crude drugs (including natural medicines). By combining interdisciplinary theories and technical methods such as herbalism, botany, zoology, chemistry, pharmacology, biology, and medicine, pharmacognosy conducts basic research on plants, animals, minerals, and other natural medicines that have medical or health care effects.
Research areas and content:
1. To develop techniques for authenticity, efficacy and safety evaluation of crude drugs/natural medicines, as well as to reveal the changing rules in quality, so as to establish qualitystandards;
2. To investigate the pharmacodynamic/toxic substances of crude drugs/natural medicines and to discover their active components or active molecules;
3. To study the resources and sustainability of crude drugs/natural medicines, to discover crude drugs with better quality, crude drug substitutes, and new crude drug resources, or to produce medicinal ingredients by applying biotechnologies, etc.;
4. To conduct R&D for pharmaceuticals, functional foods, and cosmetics based on the discovery of active components and active molecules of crude drugs/natural medicines.
Natural Medicinal Chemistry
Natural medicinal chemistry focuses on the study of active substances in natural medicines (plants, animals, microorganisms, and minerals) by applying modern science, technologies, and methods, especially knowledge of chemistry and biology. The research of natural medicinal chemistry mainly includes the extraction and isolation, structure determination, structural modification and total synthesis, biological activity, biosynthesis, and synthetic biology of active ingredients of natural drugs. The goal is to discover therapeutic compounds from the active ingredients of natural drugs, which in turn can provide lead compounds for the creation of new chemical entities (NCEs). Natural medicinal chemistry offers the basics for the research and development of new drugs with independent intellectual property rights, and has a very important role in the development of innovative drugs with NCEs.
Research areas:
1. Research on the active ingredients of natural drugs
To carry out extraction and isolation, structure determination, and biological activity research on active ingredients in natural drugs, and discover chemical molecules of natural drugs with novel structures and significant biological activities.
2. Structural modification, synthesis, and bioactivity studies of natural products
To investigate the structural modification and synthesis of active natural product molecules using organic chemistry methods in order to improve the activity, safety, and solubility of natural product molecules and to provide lead compounds for innovative drug research.
Chemistry of Chinese Materia Medica
The subject of Chemistry of Chinese Materia Medica investigates the chemical components of Chinese Medicinal Materials, based on the theory of TCM and using modern science and technology of chemistry, physics, and biology. It explains the effect of active substances of Chinese Medicinal Materials on the treatment of diseases and the relationship between the material basis and the nature of Chinese Medicinal Materials, and clarifies the scientific concepts of traditional Chinese medicine. The research objects are the chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine that have biological activity or can play a role in disease prevention and treatment, such as the extraction, isolation, structure identification, biological activity, and biosynthetic pathways of active ingredients. It also includes the discovery of active lead compounds and the optimization of their structures and quality standards, as well as the exploration of relationships between the structure of active ingredients and the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. Chemistry of Chinese Materia Medica is one of the important basic subjects in the field of Chinese medicine research, and is an essential part of the primary discipline of TCM.
Research areas:
1. Research on chemical compositions and quality standards of Chinese medicine
To carry out the extraction and separation of major and active ingredients in commonly used Chinese medicines. To conduct structure identification and biological activity research to clarify the effective substances of Chinese medicines for treating diseases, based on which reasonable quality control standards can be established to ensure the quality of Chinese medicines.
2. Research on the chemical compositions of Chinese medicine and new drug development
To carry out extraction, separation, structure determination, and biological activity studies on chemical components in Chinese medicines with therapeutic effects that are commonly used in clinical practice. To discover chemical molecules or compounds of Chinese medicines with novel structures and significant biological activities, and to provide a material basis for the research and development of innovative drugs.
Biotechnology of Chinese Materia Medica
Biotechnology of Chinese Materia Medica is a comprehensive discipline based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, pharmacy, and biological sciences, which carries out researches on modern Chinese medicine, Chinese medicinal resources, and industrialization using biological engineering and biochemical engineering methods. As a branch of biotechnology research, Biotechnology of Chinese Materia Medica has established a distinctive knowledge and technology system in the fields of scientific research and industrial development. Its research involves the principle and application of Chinese medicine tissue culture & cell engineering technology, biotransformation and synthetic biology of active ingredients in Chinese medicine, the molecular identification of Chinese medicine, and fermentation of medicinal fungi and production of secondary metabolites. Research areas: 1. Biotechnology of Chinese Materia Medica and innovative drug research To efficiently discover new drug lead compounds by means of modern biotechnology, or to prepare trace amounts of highly efficient natural products with modern biotechnology methods, and to conduct research on new drug develepment. 2. Biosynthesis and transformation of active ingredients in Chinese Medicinal Materials To conduct research on the biotransformation and efficacy screening of chemical components of Chinese Medicinal Materials using plant and microbial systems, in order to discover new drug lead compounds; To conduct biosynthesis research on active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine through genetic engineering technology. 3. Biotechnology of Chinese Materia Medica and the rational utilization of resources To realize the modernized production, rational utilization, regeneration, and comprehensive utilization of traditional hinese medicine resources by means of modern biotechnology. 4. Research on multi-technological integration evaluation system of Chinese Medicinal Materials Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica studies the interaction and the principle of action between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and organisms, based on the theory and clinical practice and using modern scientific and technological means. It is an interdisciplinary branch combining TCM and modern pharmacology, which connects traditional and modern medicines. The research mainly includes pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of TCM. The former studies the effect of TCM on the body, revealing the pharmacological activity, mechanism of action, and material basis of TCM, while the latter studies the disposition of TCM by the body, revealing the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion process, especially the blood concentration-time relationship. These studies are designed to guide the rational clinical use, maximize the therapeutic effect of TCM, and prevent adverse reactions. In addition, the research of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica also involves the scientific context of TCM theory and its toxicology. Research areas: 2. Neuropsychopharmacology of TCM: To study the mechanism of TCM compounds and active ingredients in the treatment of depression, Parkinson's disease, and pain. 3. Pharmacology of anti-metabolic diseases of TCM: To conduct PK-PD studies on TCM to improve metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes. 4. Antitumor pharmacology of TCM: To study the material basis and mechanism of action of TCM in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and other malignant tumors. Pharmaceutics of Chinese Materia Medica Research areas: 1. New dosage forms and new technologies for Pharmaceutics of Chinese Medicinal Materials Combined with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine, the new dosage forms and new technologies of modern preparations are used to solve the defects of TCM products and to improve the delivery system for a better therapeutic effect of TCM. 2. Components and material basis of Chinese Medicinal Materials Combined with TCM theories, modern science and techniques are used to analyze the composition and effective material basis of Chinese Medicinal Materials. 3. Research and development of new excipients for Chinese Medicinal Materials Excellent new excipients can promote the development of a new class of dosage forms, new drug delivery systems, and new formulations, leading to improved product quality of various preparations. Combining the characteristics of Chinese medicine preparations, we use modern excipient development technology to research and develop new excipients that can perfectly perform with Chinese Medicinal Materials. Analysis Science of Chinese Medicines
Analysis Science of Chinese Medicines refers to the systematic study of quality analysis methods and techniques throughout the production and clinical application of Chinese Medicines, based on the theories of Traditional Chinese medicine and the methods and techniques of chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, microbiology, informatics, and systems biology. It also establishes a new system of quality evaluation and quality standards for Chinese medicines based on clinical assessment. These researches can not only support the safe and effective clinical application of Chinese medicines, but also promote the research and development (R&D) of innovative Chinese medicines.
Research areas:
1. Modern analysis of Chinese Medicines
Modern analysis of Chinese Medicines uses new techniques and methods to study the material basis of Chinese Medicines and its quality standard system according to clinical value, which mainly includes: ①Development of new chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, as well as their hybrid technical systems for the characterization of the in vitro and in vivo material bases of Chinese medicines;②Building emerging analytical theories and data analysis models to explain the mode of action and the mechanism of Chinese Medicines (including metabolomics, microbiomics, and proteomics, etc.);③Establishing a biological activity evaluation system and target screening system according to the characteristics of Chinese medicines to conduct R&D for innovative Chinese medicines.
2. Spectrum-effect relationship study of Chinese medicines
The spectrum-effect relationship study of Chinese medicines provides accurate quality evaluation of Chinese medicines by integrating and correlating the chemical and biological information of components in Chinese medicines. It is an important and popular part of the modern quality evaluation system of Chinese medicines. The main research area includes: Methodological studies on the fingerprints of Chinese medicines, development of rapid selection for active ingredients of Chinese medicines, rapid evaluation techniques for the activity of Chinese medicines, spectrum-effect integrated fingerprints, etc. 3. In vivo analysis of Chinese medicines The in vivo metabolism of active therapeutic ingredients of Chinese medicines and its compound formulas are investigated by applying modern analytical techniques; In vivo metabolic process and change patterns of active ingredients of Chinese medicines are revealed in multi-modal and multi-dimensional manners; These researches will provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the clarification of holistic, synergistic, and multi-target action of Chinese medicines. Resources Science of Chinese Materia Medica Research areas: 1. Resources of Chinese Medicinal Materials and new drug development. Based on the chemical taxonomy principle that plants with similar affinities may have similar chemical compositions, multidisciplinary approaches such as ethnopharmacology are used to explore new natural drug resources, conduct research on new drugs, and promote integrated development and utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials resources. To carry out research on the processing technology of crude drugs, the extraction process, and standardization of herbal extracts. 2. Resources of Chinese Medicinal Materials and quality 3. Metabolic engineering of Chinese Medicinal Materials Using modern molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and other methods to analyze the metabolic pathways of active ingredients of common and important medicinal plants, the cloning of key enzyme genes, functional verification, and synthetic biological research. Processing of Chinese Materia Medica Processing of Chinese Materia Medica belongs to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics category and is one of the main subjects of TCM. It applies modern chemical, analytical, pharmacological, and biological techniques to investigate the processing technology, processing methods, processing conditions, processing purposes, and processing principles of Chinese Medicinal Materials, so as to improve the safety, effectiveness, and uniformity of effective substances of Chinese Medicinal Materials. Research areas: 1. Modern systematic studies of the principles of processing based on clinical values; The herbal decoction pieces commonly used in clinical practice, whose processing mechanism is unclear, are taken as the objects of study. Using interdisciplinary methods such as modern chemistry, biology, omics, and analytics, the study will focus on the effective material basis of herbal pieces, the quantitative and qualitative changes of the active ingredients during their processing, and the effects of the processing on the bioavailability and tissue targeting of the active ingredients, so as to systematically elucidate the principles of reducing toxicity and increasing their effectiveness through the processing of Chinese Medicinal Materials. 2. Processing technology innovation and process specification by combining information technology and intelligent manufacturing; To address the problem of insufficient modernization and standardization in the production of commonly used herbal decoction pieces, and to improve the production efficiency and the quality uniformity and stability, the modernized processing technology has been developed based on the research and determination of the best process of herbal processing, taking into account advanced information technology and intelligent manufacturing technology, and the process specification has been established according to production practices. 3. Quality evaluation and characteristic quality standard research on herbal decoction pieces based on the principle of processing. Currently, most herbal decoction pieces are not subject to reliable modern quality evaluation and control methods. By understanding the processing principles and applying modern analytics and biology, we will conduct in-depth research on the strength, appearance, odor, grading, fingerprints, and content determination of decoction pieces, and develop reliable, simple, and accurate modern quality evaluation and control methods based on the individual features and medication uses of different decoction pieces. Cosmetics and Skin Health The domain of cosmetics and skin health is one of the meaningful directions for a Master's program in Biology and Medicine. To develop the program features, we will focus on the rapid development cosmetic industry for skin health by taking advantage of multidisciplinary integration. The course is designed based on the application development chain of cosmetics to cover the entire industrial chain and also retain the studies of engineering, technology, dermatology, chemistry, engineering, materials science, plant resources, pharmacology, and management science by including formulation design, cosmetic formulation, safety production, analysis, testing, safety, efficacy evaluation, and health regulations. Upon completing this program, students are expected to be able to apply the fundamental theories, professional knowledge in skin physiology, cosmetic R&D, cosmetic-related regulations and supervision, and the learning from cross-disciplinary integration to the development of cosmetics. The overall goal of this program is to provide students with longitudinal knowledge and skills needed to become innovative, high-level, and application-oriented technical experts as they can engage in professional, technical, or managerial work in the cosmetics industry. Research areas 1. Efficacy and safety evaluation of cosmetics 2. Development of raw materials and formulations for cosmetics 3. Quality control of cosmetics
CopyRight School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica China Pharmaceutical University
Jiangning Campus:#639 Longmian Avenue,Jiangning District,Nanjing,211198,P.R.China.