PCOM School of Pharmacy Students Present COVID-19 Research
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PCOM School of Pharmacy Students Present COVID-19 Research


February 3, 2023
By Shashidharamurthy Taval, PhD

Pharmacy and graduate students from PCOM Georgia presented research on potential drug treatments for COVID-19 at the Puerto Rico Section 73rd Southeastern Regional American Chemical Society (SERMACS) meeting in October 2022.

The central theme of SERMACS 2022 was "Chemistry Transcending Boundaries for a Sustainable Future." SERMACS 2022 was an international event promoted both in the United States and Latin America. The main objective of the American Chemical Society is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and improve people's lives through the transforming power of chemistry.

A PCOM School of Pharmacy student is shown at a podium on stage presenting her research at the SERMACS 2022 meeting in Puerto Rico.
PharmD and graduate students from PCOM Georgia presented research at SERMACS 2022.

The SEMACS organizing committee selected three posters by PCOM Georgia PharmD and graduate students for the podium presentation:

  • Tanshinone derivatives inhibit SARS-CoV-2 specific 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) enzymatic activity in vitro.
  • In vitro high throughput screening for the inhibitory effect of anthraquinone derivatives against SARS-CoV-2 proteolytic enzymes
  • Identification of phytochemicals that inhibit the enzymatic activity of SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) in vitro

The research was completed at the PCOM School of Pharmacy research laboratory. The students were employed in the pharmacy research laboratory as research assistants and obtained federal work-study support. They performed the experiments using modern techniques, analyzed the data, and prepared posters and presentations using PowerPoint. Drs. Shashidharamurthy Taval, Srujana Rayalam and Vicky Mody trained these students to learn techniques and perform competitively.

PCOM School of Pharmacy and the Division of Research provided financial support which allowed the students to attend and present their research work at SERMACS 2022.

The experience gained by our PharmD and graduate students will help them secure attractive residencies, fellowships and drug discovery positions in pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations.

Visit the PCOM School of Pharmacy research page to learn more about student research opportunities.

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