ChemTalk

Donna Huryn: Medicinal Chemistry and Women in Organic Chemistry

Medicinal Chemistry – Industry vs. Academia

[Alaina Rumrill] Dr. Donna Huryn is a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania who actively shares her passion for medicinal chemistry [1]. Donna Huryn’s career journey has traversed the often divergent worlds of industry and academia, providing her with a unique perspective on both sectors. Early in her career, Dr. Huryn worked for leading pharmaceutical companies such as Hoffman LaRoche and Wyeth Research [1]. During her time in the industry, she focused on developing therapeutics for challenging diseases, including Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia [1]. Working in this environment, she learned that resource allocation significantly shapes the direction of research. Companies prioritize projects with clear market potential and a direct path to commercialization, often narrowing the focus to meet the demands of investors, regulators, and public health needs [1]. This approach contrasts with the more exploratory, discovery-driven nature of academic research.

One of the key differences Dr. Huryn experienced was the collaborative atmosphere within the industry. In pharmaceutical companies, teams work collectively toward shared goals, with contributions from scientists across various disciplines. The success of a project depends on collaboration, whether it’s the chemists synthesizing compounds or the biologists testing these compounds in animal models. The structure of industry projects also leaves little room for high-risk experimentation; instead, researchers focus on proven methodologies and incremental advances to ensure a project’s success [1].

However, after gaining significant experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Huryn decided to transition to academia, seeking a more hands-on scientific experience and the flexibility to balance her career with family life [1]. Currently a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Huryn values the autonomy academia provides [1]. In this setting, she can pursue high-risk, high-reward projects that may not immediately attract industry attention but have the potential to address unmet medical needs. Academia allows her to mentor students, nurturing the next generation of scientists, and offering them the opportunity to explore their passions in chemistry and medicinal drug development [1]. For Dr. Huryn, the contrast between industry’s collaborative, application-driven environment and academia’s individual, experimental focus has enriched her approach to medicinal chemistry.

Research in Drug Development

Dr. Donna Huryn began her research career at a pivotal moment in medical history, during the late 1980s when the world was grappling with the AIDS epidemic [1]. At that time, HIV was poorly understood, and its transmission, causes, and treatments were clouded by stigma and misinformation. The urgency of this public health crisis spurred an influx of scientific inquiry, policy changes, and funding, making it a crucial period for researchers like Dr. Huryn to contribute to the fight against HIV [1].

HIV attacks CD4 lymphocytes, weakening the immune system and the stigma surrounding the disease made research especially difficult [1]. However, increased public awareness and funding led to critical advancements in HIV research. Dr. Huryn’s work focused on the molecular mechanisms of HIV and contributed to the development of protease inhibitors, which prevent the virus from forming essential proteins [1]. Her contributions helped shape HIV treatments, turning what was once a fatal disease into a manageable condition.

Figure 1. HIV-infected T cell

Protease inhibitors, such as saquinavir, became key in treating HIV, blocking the virus’s ability to mature and spread [2]. Dr. Huryn’s research significantly influenced the future of drug development, with the compounds she helped develop undergoing clinical trials and improving patient outcomes. Her early work in HIV research laid the groundwork for treatments that dramatically extended the lives of those infected with the virus, marking a turning point in the fight against the disease [1].

Beyond her work in HIV, Dr. Huryn’s research has expanded into designing small molecules to target various diseases. Her lab focuses on developing enzyme inhibitors and allosteric effectors, which can regulate protein activity to treat complex conditions like cancer [1]. Collaborating with biologists and medical professionals, she ensures that her compounds are tested in various systems, such as cell lines and zebrafish models, before advancing to human trials [1]. Dr. Huryn’s innovative approach continues to push the boundaries of medicinal chemistry, combining academic research with real-world therapeutic impact.

Empowering Women in Chemistry

In addition to her remarkable scientific contributions, Dr. Donna Huryn is a leading advocate for women in chemistry. Throughout her career, she has been committed to addressing the underrepresentation of women in medicinal chemistry. Her landmark paper, “Medicinal Chemistry, Where Are All the Women?” highlighted the disparity between the high number of women graduating with science degrees and the relatively low percentage of women holding positions in the medicinal chemistry sector [3]. This realization led Dr. Huryn to take action, co-founding the Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry (EWOC) conference to provide a platform for women in the field [1].

The conference, which features all-women speakers, has become a crucial meeting place for women to connect, share their experiences, and foster a sense of community in a historically male-dominated field. Since its inception, the conference has gained popularity, with over 1,000 people attending virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic and hundreds more participating in subsequent in-person events [1]. The event offers networking opportunities, mentorship, and workshops aimed at addressing the “leaky pipeline” in STEM, which refers to the tendency of women to drop out of scientific careers at various stages [1].

Dr. Huryn’s dedication to empowering women extends beyond organizing conferences. She believes that mentorship plays a key role in helping women navigate the challenges of the scientific world [1]. By providing support, role models, and guidance, mentorship can help women feel less isolated in their careers, encouraging them to stay in the field and continue making valuable contributions. The EWOC conference, along with other initiatives led by Dr. Huryn, seeks to offer advancement and networking opportunities to women at all career stages, from students to professionals [1]. Her efforts are creating a more inclusive environment within the world of organic and medicinal chemistry, empowering future generations of women to thrive in this critical field of science.

Learn More

If you would like to hear more about Dr. Donna Huryn’s journey and work in medicinal chemistry, visit us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and many other streaming services to listen to our ChemTalk Podcast with Dr. Donna Huryn, Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. 
Find the ChemTalk podcast here.

Works Cited

[1] Huryn, Donna. Personal interview. Conducted by Jason Lu and Yeongseo Son. 28 December 2023.

[2] Majerová, Taťána, and Jan Konvalinka. “Viral Proteases as Therapeutic Targets.” Molecular aspects of medicine, December 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9706241/ .

[3] Huryn, Donna M, Maria Laura Bolognesi, and Wendy B Young. “Medicinal Chemistry: Where Are All the Women?” ACS medicinal chemistry letters, August 25, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5601382/ .