Prof. Qidong You is a National Model Teacher, National High-Level Talent, and National Distinguished Teacher. He is a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at China Pharmaceutical University and Chief Scientist of the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization. He holds key positions in multiple national and provincial academic committees, including the China Committee for Terminology in Science and Technology, the State Pharmacopoeia Commission, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, and the Medicinal Chemistry Committee of the Jiangsu Pharmaceutical Association. He has been honored with numerous national and provincial awards for science and technology as well as teaching achievements. He has led over 20 major national research projects, published more than 500 SCI papers, filed over 100 patents internationally, with 70 granted, and edited over 20 monographs and textbooks.

1. Could you briefly introduce your team’s current research focus? What initially inspired this research direction?
Our team is a core group within the Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Druggability Optimization. It consists of five Professors: Prof. Qidong You (Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at China Pharmaceutical University, Scholar of the National Major Talent Program, and Chief Scientist of the Provincial Key Laboratory); Prof. Zhengyu Jiang (Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at China Pharmaceutical University, Young Scholar of the National Major Talent Program, and Director of the Provincial Key Laboratory); Prof. Lei Wang (Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at China Pharmaceutical University, Recipient of the National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientist Fund (Type B), and Secretary of the Provincial Key Laboratory); Prof. Xiaoke Guo (Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at China Pharmaceutical University, Young Scholar of the National Major Talent Program, and Principal Investigator (PI) of the Provincial Key Laboratory); and Prof. Xiaoli Xu (Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at China Pharmaceutical University, Young Scholar of the National Major Talent Program, and Principal Investigator (PI) of the Provincial Key Laboratory). In addition, the team is supported by two Associate Professors and five postdoctoral fellows.
The main research direction of our team focuses on the chemical regulation of functional protein molecules through interactions among biological macromolecules in vivo. Our goal is to transform targets that are difficult or even impossible to address with traditional small-molecule design into druggable targets through novel mechanisms of action and molecular design strategies, thereby conducting original research to discover innovative drugs. The specific research directions cover the following three aspects:

• Medicinal Chemistry of Bifunctional Small Molecules: We conduct research on the medicinal chemistry of bifunctional small molecules and develop new protein degradation technologies to expand the scope and precision of targeted protein degradation;

• Regulation of the Chaperone (e.g., HSP90)–Co-chaperone (e.g., CDC37, PP5)–Client Protein (e.g., CDK4/6, ASK1) System: We focus on regulatory research on the chaperone–co-chaperone–client protein system, and design innovative Homodimerization Inducing Molecules (HIMs) to selectively block the folding and maturation of protein kinases in vivo, thereby inducing their degradation;

• Discovery and Development of Innovative Drugs Targeting Epigenetic Regulators: We carry out the discovery and development of innovative drugs targeting epigenetic regulatory proteins and combine this with research on nucleic acid immune recognition mechanisms. We design novel molecules for precise regulation targeting nucleic acid sensors (e.g., the dsDNA-sensing pathway cGAS-STING and Z-form nucleic acid-binding proteins) to explore potential new targets and pathways for the treatment of immune-related diseases.
  The interactions of biological macromolecules in vivo, including protein–protein and protein–nucleic acid interactions, form the foundation of life processes. These interaction networks not only carry the recognition and transmission of biological signals in vivo, but also directly determine the biological functions of functional protein molecules. Traditional medicinal chemistry research on small-molecule design focuses on designing molecules for a single cavity of a single target, making it difficult to address drug design for difficult-to-drug and undruggable targets with complex mechanisms and high selectivity requirements. The regulation of functional protein molecules by biological macromolecular interactions in vivo is based on understanding the regulatory network of biological macromolecules, combined with chemical biology research. It involves developing new protein degradation technologies, designing innovative target protein ligands, conducting HIM design for the HSP90-CDC37-PP5 chaperone system and HSP90 itself to precisely affect the folding, maturation, and release of protein kinases, designing small-molecule regulators for methylation-modified proteins and their associated reader proteins, and creating novel molecules that can achieve precise regulation targeting nucleic acid sensors.

2. In your opinion, what will the most noteworthy hotspots, breakthrough points, or development trends in the field of medicinal chemistry be in the coming years? Could you elaborate on them for us?

1. Blurring Boundaries Between Traditional Small Molecules and Biologics, and Convergent Development: Drug modalities are breaking through the traditional boundaries between small molecules and biologics. Protein degradation technologies have transformed the drug intervention paradigm from “targeted binding” to “induced elimination”; conjugate drugs, represented by Antibody–Drug Conjugates (ADCs), have introduced new paradigms for targeted drugs; and new modification and optimization strategies have achieved dual breakthroughs in the stability and targeting of peptide and nucleic acid drugs. The emergence of these new molecular modalities has continuously blurred the boundaries between small molecules and biologics, driving medicinal chemistry toward greater convergence. PROTACs and molecular glues have moved from the conceptual stage to clinical application. In the future, more emphasis will be placed on their “regulatability” and “tissue specificity” to overcome current issues such as off-target toxicity and poor bioavailability.
2. Artificial Intelligence as the Core Driver: Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the core driver of medicinal chemistry and drug molecular design. The in-depth involvement of AI is no longer merely an auxiliary tool; it has begun to dominate molecular design, greatly shortening the cycle from target discovery to preclinical candidate compounds. AI will play a more important role in compound screening, ADMET prediction, and de novo molecule generation, accelerating the process from target validation to lead compound discovery.
3. Nucleic Acid Immunity and Epigenetic Regulation Mechanisms as New Frontiers for Innovative Drug R&D: Nucleic acid immunity and epigenetic regulation mechanisms have become newly developed frontiers for innovative drug research and development. The in-depth exploration of nucleic acid immune regulation mechanisms, the discovery of new targets, and the design and optimization of oligonucleotide drugs as messengers or tools will lead to the development of novel molecules with intelligent targeting capabilities, controlled-release behavior, and regulable immunogenicity. In-depth integration of chemical epigenetics: we will not only inhibit “writers” and “erasers”, but also precisely regulate “readers” and open new therapeutic windows by intervening in dynamic regulatory processes, such as RNA methylation.
4. Further Development of New Drug Molecular Design Technologies: Through the design of covalent drugs, allosteric inhibitors, and protein–protein interaction inhibitors, an increasing number of targets previously considered “difficult-to-drug” and “undruggable” (such as transcription factors, phosphatases, and scaffold proteins) will be transformed into intervenable targets.

3. As a member of the Scientific Committee for this conference, what aspects of the agenda or discussion topics are most appealing to you? How would you assess the conference's role in advancing the discipline?
The most appealing aspect of this conference is that it comprehensively covers the most noteworthy hotspots in medicinal chemistry today, which also represent future development trends. The conference themes include not only classic areas such as chemical biology (Session Topic 1), natural products (Session Topics 4 and 5), and the classic target GPCR (Session Topic 6), but also cutting-edge technological fields such as AI-driven drug research and development (Session Topic 2) and DNA-encoded library technology (Session Topic 7). These kinds of “integration of classic and new” discussions often spark the most wonderful ideas. In addition, as mentioned earlier, bifunctional molecules, such as PROTACs, which target protein degradation, are current research hotspots. Session Topic 3, which focuses on emerging drug modalities based on proximity effects, will also be a topic of great concern to everyone. Finally, the sharing of cutting-edge medicinal chemistry case studies (Session Topic 8) will ground these technologies in reality, showing which molecules have entered the clinic and which strategies have been proven feasible.
The conference's role in promoting the development of the discipline lies in:

• Cross-disciplinary Integration: It breaks down the barriers between medicinal chemistry, biology, and clinical medicine, and promotes in-depth communication among experts from multiple disciplines;
• Focus on Translation: The agenda setting not only focuses on “discovery”, but also emphasizes “translation”, building a bridge between academia and industry, which helps accelerate the progress from basic research to preclinical candidate compounds.
  With the emergence of these comprehensive, novel, and important topics, this conference will play a key role in advancing the field of medicinal chemistry.

4. What advice would you give to young scholars in similar fields to advance their academic research?
First, cultivate interdisciplinary thinking and devote oneself to academic research with a calm mind. Young scholars should strive to become “versatile talents” with in-depth expertise in their field; a solid scientific research foundation is always the foundation for establishing themselves. At the same time, medicinal chemistry is an interdisciplinary subject. Therefore, scholars not only need to delve deeply into their subfields but also to develop horizontally and integrate knowledge. Young scholars should take the initiative to integrate into the trend of interdisciplinary development but not be led astray by it.
Second, consolidate the foundation and return to the problem's essence. When choosing research topics, let the “problem” lead, rather than being driven by “hotspots”. Current research hotspots are diverse and changing rapidly; it is crucial to maintain independent thinking and let the scientific problems you care about drive you forward, rather than blindly chasing current hotspots. This is the fundamental way for young people to quickly form their own research characteristics. As researchers in medicinal chemistry, we should never lose the “basic skills” of medicinal chemistry.
Third, remain open and cooperative, dare to challenge, and maintain resilience. Medicinal chemistry is inherently an interdisciplinary subject, and the era of working alone is over. Take the initiative to knock on the door of the neighboring laboratory and discuss your molecules with the biologists and pharmacologists there. Clearly, in the field of drug research, every inactive compound is valuable; it tells us which direction to take. Maintain the craftsmanship of meticulously refining molecular structures, because ultimately, what patients receive must be a high-quality drug, not just a research paper.

5. Based on your research experience, how do you think academia and industry can better collaborate to accelerate the translation of medicinal chemistry research into practical applications?
This is a core issue related to the efficiency of drug research and development. The mission of academia should still be to pursue original innovations that industry cannot, dare not, or lacks the patience to pursue. Academic research should address unmet clinical needs, genuine scientific problems, and bottleneck technologies. By adhering to these two points, academia and industry can achieve better long-term cooperation.
The cooperation between academia and industry can be optimized from three dimensions: “talent, platform, and mechanism”.
First, a two-way flow of talent. Academia needs to cultivate chemists who understand “druggability”, while industry also needs to maintain sensitivity to cutting-edge science. I encourage young people to experience the rhythm of research and development in enterprises, and I also welcome industrial scientists to return to campuses to share practical experience. Innovation occurs when ideas collide.
Second, co-construction and sharing of platforms. As discussed at our conference, technologies such as DNA-encoded libraries and AI-driven research and development require significant infrastructure investment. If academia and industry can jointly build joint laboratories, with academia providing “targets” and “ideas” and industry providing “libraries” and “computing power”, then “DNA-encoded libraries” can become a real discovery engine, rather than a luxury that each party pursues independently.
Third, flexible and innovative mechanisms. Academia should be good at “enriching” their discoveries; even providing an additional co-crystal structure or one more preliminary metabolic data point can help industry judge the value of a project. Industry also needs to dare to “invest early and invest in small projects”, get involved when the project is still in its infancy, and use industry experience to guide chemical modification, avoiding academia from going all the way down an unworkable path.
In general, ideal cooperation is not a simple “money-for-molecule” transaction but a deep, trusting partnership. Whether publishing papers in top journals or promoting drugs to the market, our common goal is to conquer diseases and benefit humanity.

Introduction of MMCS 2026:
Conference date: 14–17 May 2026 (Beijing Time);
Location: Beiyuan Grand Hotel, Beijing, China;
Abstract Acceptance Notification: 27 March 2026;
Early Bird Registration Deadline: 3 April 2026.

Conference Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Xiaoguang Lei, (Peking University, China);
• Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero, (University of Barcelona, Spain).

For more details: https://sciforum.net/event/MMCS2026.

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact mmcs2026@mdpi.com.