Biological & Medicinal Chemistry Sector (BMCS)

As part of the Industry & Technology Forum, BMCS aims to further the interests of all members of the RSC, both industrial and academic, involved in the pursuit and understanding of biologically active molecules.  

The predominant areas include:

• pharmaceuticals
• agrochemicals
• flavours 
• fragrances     

It also acts to promote public awareness of the crucial role played by chemistry in the modern industrial environment.  The BMCS seeks to achieve these objectives by the organisation of scientific meetings and symposia, support for educational activities in the UK, and advising the RSC on policies that directly affect the BMCS. 

RSC BMCS Malcolm Campbell Memorial Prize 2009 Winners

The 2009 Malcolm Campbell award was presented to Dr LWL Woo and Prof BVL Potter from the University of Bath and Dr A Purohit and Prof MJ Reed from Imperial College for their discovery of STX64, a novel agent against steroid sulfatase which has demonstrated evidence of efficacy in the clinic for the treatment of hormone dependent cancers.

The prize is awarded biennially by the Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Sector (BMCS) of the RSC in recognition of recently published outstanding biological & medicinal chemistry research. It commemorates the achievements of Professor Malcolm Campbell, a long serving member of the BMCS who made important contributions in many areas of chemistry and its application to the understanding of bioactivity.

The presentation was made at the 15th RSC-SCI Medicinal Chemistry Symposium at Cambridge.