As a functional and structural unit of the College of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Chile, The Department of Pharmacological Chemistry and Toxicology’s mission is in developing, teaching and cultivating the pharmacological chemistry and toxicology of natural and synthetic bioactive molecules.

It cultivates disciplines with the main goal of developing studies of active drugs and/or ingredients. It is especially concerned with knowledge of chemical structure and the resulting chemical, physicochemical, and biochemical properties, and the determinant pharmacological and toxicological behavior of these molecules, whether natural or synthetic.

Due to our strategic relationship between the strictly basic and what is applied concerning drugs, our work is directed toward pharmaco-biologic research, pharmacotherapy (human and animal), and its repercussions, either positive or negative.

As a natural expression of this cultivated discipline, there is undergraduate and graduate teaching within the department that consists of 13 required undergraduate courses, 13 electives, and participation by Academics in courses in other departments in different graduate programs.

Director
Prof. Guillermo Díaz Araya

Secretary
María Cáceres
Email:  mcaceres@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +562 29781632

Director
Prof. Guillermo Díaz Araya

Assistant Director:

Prof. Alejandro Alavrez Lueje

Advisors
Dr. David Vásquez Velásquez
Dr. Mario Rivera Meza

Academic Staff

Prof. Alejandro Álvarez Lueje
Email: aalvarez@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782889

Prof. Soledad Bollo Dragnic
Email: sbollo@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782896

Prof. Marcelo Kogan Bocian
Email: mkogan@ciq.uchile.c
Telephone: +56 2 29782897

Prof. Igor Lemus Gutiérrez
Email: ilemus@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782888

Prof. Jaime Riquelme Meléndez
Email: riquelme@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782891

Prof. Mario Rivera Meza
Email: mario.rivera@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29771908

Academic
Prof. David Vásquez Velásquez
Email: dvasquez@ciq.uchile.cl 
Telephone: +56 2 29782887

Prof. Guillermo Díaz 
Email: gadiaz@ciq.uchile.cl 
Telephone: +56 2 29782975

Prof. Gabriela Valenzuela B.
Email: gabadriela@gmail.com
Telephone: +56 2 29782890

Areas of Research

• Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology, Drug Delivery
  Marcelo Kogan (Head), Prof. Marcelo Kogan, Prof. Jenny Fiedler, Prof. Soledad Bollo, Prof. Alejandro Álvarez, Prof. Sergio Lavandero, Prof. Mehrdad Yazdani, Prof. Javier Morales M., Prof. Felipe Oyarzún and Prof. Andrew Quest.
• Pharmaceutical Analysis and (Bio)sensors
  Soledad Bollo (Head), Prof. Alejandro Álvarez and Prof. Claudia Yáñez.
• Chemical and pharmaco-toxicological study of plant species
  Gabriela Valenzuela, Prof. Olosmira Correa, Prof. Lorena García, Prof. Claudio Olea and Prof. Alfonso Paredes

Laboratories

Antimicrobial Development Laboratory

Professor
David Vásquez
Emails: dvasquez@ciq.uchile.cl

Brief description
The main focus of this Laboratory is to develop new active molecules against resistant bacterial strains. Within this area, the Laboratory carries out the design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of new antimicrobial molecules. To this end, it has two independent spaces. In the first, the design, synthesis and characterization of organic compounds is carried out. In the second is the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the compounds using different techniques. Parallel to this, there is collaboration in the design and synthesis of organic compounds that show potential bioactivity.

Experimental Pharmacology Laboratory

Professor
Mario Rivera
Email: mario.rivera@ciq.uchile.cl

Brief description
The objective of our Laboratory is to identify new molecular targets involved in the addictive properties of alcohol and other abused drugs. To study these molecular targets, we mainly use tools that manipulate the genetic expression of in vitro and in vivo models. Additionally, our Laboratory also has the goal of developing new experimental drugs that are useful in treating addiction to substances. To achieve this, we use in silico tools, chemical synthesis, in vitro studies (cellular models) and we evaluate their efficacy in preclinical models of dependence.

All classes are taught in Spanish.