Workshop for Drug Hunters

Sobre

Sobre o evento

The II Workshop for Drug Hunters is an international scientific meeting focused on contemporary strategies for drug discovery and development, integrating computational and experimental approaches applied to the identification, design, optimization, and evaluation of novel therapeutic molecules. The event will take place from August 26 to 28, 2026, at the CSA Campus of the Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ), Brazil. Following the outstanding success of the I Workshop for Drug Hunters, which promoted highly productive scientific discussions and established new national and international collaborations, the second edition expands its scientific scope by combining keynote lectures, technical discussions, and hands-on training activities. The event aims to provide participants with both theoretical foundations and practical experience in modern tools and methodologies used in medicinal chemistry, molecular modeling, structural biology, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, artificial intelligence, and rational drug design. The scientific program will feature lectures delivered by researchers from leading Brazilian institutions — including UFSJ, CEFET-MG, UEFS, UFRJ, UFMG, UFLA, and UFJF — as well as international collaborators from Dublin City University (Ireland) and Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Topics covered during the meeting will include: Artificial intelligence applied to drug discovery Structure-based drug design and molecular docking Molecular dynamics simulations Natural products and medicinal chemistry Computational prediction of biological activity and ADMET properties Structural bioinformatics and cheminformatics Experimental and computational approaches for therapeutic target identification Translational applications in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research In addition to the keynote sessions, the workshop will offer hands-on activities and practical tutorials, allowing participants to directly explore computational platforms, molecular modeling workflows, docking protocols, and AI-based strategies currently employed in modern pharmaceutical research. These activities are designed to provide graduate students, researchers, and professionals with practical skills applicable to both academic and industrial environments. Another major highlight of the event is the scientific publication opportunity associated with the workshop. The journal Drug and Drug Candidate will open a special issue dedicated to the II Workshop for Drug Hunters, providing participants with the opportunity to submit their research contributions. Importantly, the best works presented during the event will be invited for publication free of charge, reinforcing the workshop’s commitment to scientific dissemination and international visibility. By integrating education, innovation, and collaborative science, the II Workshop for Drug Hunters seeks to strengthen interdisciplinary research networks and accelerate the development of innovative therapeutic solutions to address current global health challenges.