Newsletter - Winter 2012 - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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Finding New Drugs: ThePath from Test Tube to thePharmacy A CALPACS speaker eventCurrent industry statistics estimate that it takesfifteen years and nearly $1 billion to bring a newdrug to market, but most consumers are unaware –and even skeptical – of the extensive effortsinvolved in finding and successfully developingthese products. This presentation looks inside theblack box, sharing an insider’s view ofpharmaceutical research and development andanswering several commonly asked questions:Where does a chemist get ideas for synthesizingand innovative drug? Why are animals still used indrug research? Why can’t scientists and clinicianswork faster? And why can’t they do their jobbetter and cheaper? In the course of describing thedrug development activities, this presentation willhighlight the range of chemistry subspecialtiesemployed in moving a drug from the lab bench tothe pharmacy shelf.***Rebecca Anderson has worked in thebiopharmaceutical industry from more than 25years in jobs spanning pharmaceuticals,biotechnology, medical devices, and contractresearch organizations. She holds a BA degree inchemistry from Coe College and a Ph.D. inpharmacology from Georgetown University.Following postdoctoral training at the Universityof Toronto, she held academic appointments at theGeorge Washington University Medical Centerand the University of Michigan School of PublicHealth. She subsequently held positions ofincreasing responsibility in pharmaceutical R&Dat Parke-Davis & Company, Boehringer IngelheimPharmaceuticals, Miravant Pharmaceuticals, andAmgen. Dr. Anderson currently works as afreelance technical writer and is the author ofCareer Opportunities in Clinical Drug Research.California Oil MuseumA CALPACS tour eventThe California Oil Museum in Santa Paula is anhistoric building in that it was the birthplace, inthe 1890s, of the Union Oil Company(UNOCAL). Prior to UNOCAL's deeding thebuilding over to the City of Santa Paula, the oilcompany invested millions of dollars to refurbishthe second floor of the building. The purpose ofthe remodeling was to resurrect the appearanceand facilities of the oil company as it was in the1890s. Visitors to the museum can view geologicand petroleum-related exhibits on the first floorthat includes a full-scale model of a 19th Centuryoil rig, as well as rotating exhibits that range fromart to scientific innovation. From the standpointof our discipline, chemistry, the area is also uniquein that it was one of the first areas wherepetroleum was not only discovered in California,but also refined to produce many of the numeroushydrocarbon products derived from crudeoil. Although off the beaten track, the museum iswell worth a visit given its significance to thepetroleum and chemical engineering industries inCalifornia.CALPACS will be hosting a tour of the OilMuseum on March 17 th after an optional lunchwith the Director at nearby Glen Tavern Inn.Please stay tuned for the event flier for details.On February 11 th , Rebecca Anderson will begiving a free lecture at Cal Poly State Universityin San Luis Obispo. There will also be a booksigning with books for sale after the talk and lightrefreshments will be served.
The Periodic Table: Its Storyand Its SignificanceA CALPACS student eventEric Scerri received all of his education in the UKat the universities of Cambridge, Southampton andKing’s College, London. He has been a Lecturerin Chemistry and History & Philosophy of Scienceat the University of California at Los Angeles(UCLA) for the past twelve years. He is theauthor of the definitive book on the periodic table,The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance,Oxford University Press, 2007 as well as ofCollected Papers in Philosophy of Chemistry, andSelected Papers on the Periodic Table, publishedby Imperial College Press in 2008 and 2009respectively. Scerri has written over 150 articlesin journals and edited collections in chemistry,chemical education and history and philosophy ofscience.Chemistry Olympiad 2012An invitation to participate in the 2012 USNational Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) was sentto 70 High School chemistry teachers andadministrators. The USNCO program seeks tostimulate interest in chemistry among high schoolstudents and recognize outstanding youngchemistry students, teachers, and schools. UScitizens competing in the USNCO are eligible tobe selected as members of the US team for theInternational Chemistry Olympiad. For the past27 years, the United States has sent a team of fourstudents to compete with nations around theworld. The students participate in both theoreticaland laboratory examinations over several days andgold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to thebest performers.This year, the international event will be held inWashington, DC, on July 21-30. To identifypotential candidates for the four-member US team,CALPACS is conducting a preliminary screeningthrough a local exam that will be administered tostudents at their local High School. The top 10scoring students on the local exam will be invitedto take the national exam at Westmont College inApril where they will have a chance to qualify forone of 20 spots at the USNCO study camp whereHis most recent book is called A Very ShortIntroduction to the Periodic Table, has just beenpublished by Oxford University Press.Eric Scerri will be speaking on the periodic tableat our spring student event which will be held atWestmont College on Saturday, April 14 th .Stay tuned for details.they will compete for one of four spots on the U.S.team.As part of our support for the 2011 USNCO,CALPACS will provide participating High Schoolteachers with an award in the form of a 1-yearsubscription to Chem13News or a 1-yearextension to their current subscription toChem13News. The magazine subscription has theadvantage of promoting professional excellence inHigh School Chemistry teaching throughout oursection.Earth Day 2012CALPACS is planning to hold a table at the SantaBarbara Earth Day Festival again this year. Lastyear, fellow ACS members and the WestmontCollege Chemistry Club discussed greenchemistry with members of the public and handedout promotional materials, including coastersmade from recycled PET and denim, andenvironmentally-friendly thermochromic pens.If you would like to help with the Earth Day eventthis year, please contact Stephen Contakes atscontakes@westmont.edu.
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Newsletter - Winter 2012 - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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