Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology
About the Department
Department originates from the Department of Medical Chemistry, University of St. Volodymyr, established in 1867. Since 1999, in connection with the opening of the Pharmaceutical Faculty the Department was renamed to “Bioorganic, Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and since 2014, a new graduate Department “Pharmaceutical, Biological and Toxicological Chemistry” of the Pharmaceutical Faculty has been separated. In 2021, the Department was reformed and called “Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology”.
In different years the Department was headed by its employees and eminent scientists such as A. Schaeffer, A. Sadoven, S. Kravchenko, S. Fomin, S. Vinokurov, D. Ferdman, R. Chagovets, E. Shamrai, Y. Hmelevsky.
Since 1997 to 2010 the Department was headed by Corresponding Member of NAMS of Ukraine, Honored Scientist of Ukraine, laureate of NAMS of Ukraine, MD, Professor Yurii I. Gubsky (1945-2019), a leading scientist in the field of medical biochemistry, biochemical pharmacology and toxicology of physiologically active compounds, the author of over 300 scientific publications, including monographs, textbooks, scientific reference books.
Priority development of Corresponding Member of NAMS of Ukraine Professor Y. Gubsky and scientific school headed by him was a series of works devoted to lipid-oxidative reactions in nuclear chromatin, free radical damage of DNA, the role of calcium in violation of metabolic processes under the conditions of antioxidant deficiency and the action of highly toxic xenobiotics.
Since 2010 the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology is headed by MD, Professor, Honorary Scientist and Technician of Ukraine Iryna Nizhenkovska. She has 41 years of experience in scientific and pedagogical work.
Research works by I. Nizhenkovska are dedicated to biochemical and membrane mechanisms of damage to the internal organs in various pathological conditions and their correction by physiologically active compounds; problems of detection of bioenergy, functional and ultrastructural changes in the myocardium under conditions of heart failure of functional and toxic genesis, as well as pharmacological correction of biochemical and membrane damage to myocardiocytes in various types of heart failure and toxic damage; synthesis and pharmacological assessment of biological activity of new compounds; biochemical and pathobiochemical molecular mechanisms of biomembrane damage and therapeutic and preventive use of bioantioxidants; development of educational and methodological support, reform of higher pharmaceutical education, implementation of modern educational technologies taking into account the specifics of teaching of Organic, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry for students of the Pharmaceutical Faculty.
- Nizhenkovska was the first in the world, who experimentally substantiated the feasibility of metabolic compounds, derivatives of succinic acid and uracil during anthracycline toxicity and cardiomyopathy caused by anthracycline antibiotics.
English proficiency level – B2.
The main directions of scientific and practical work:
Number of trained doctors of sciences – 1, candidates of sciences – 6, masters – 10; is a scientific supervisor of 2 PhD candidates.
Publications (over 500): textbooks – 13, tutorials – 20, monographs – 2, Standard of higher education of Ukraine in the specialty 226 “Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy”, “State Formulary of Medicinal Products”, educational and qualification programs – 4, patents – 43.
Public activity: head of the Formulation Committee of Ministry of Health of Ukraine; expert of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in the field of “Pharmacy. Clinical pharmacy. Clinical pharmacology”, head of the Academic Council of the Pharmaceutical Faculty; head of the Attestation Committee for Certification of Pharmacists of The State Service of Medicines and Drug Control of Ukraine; member of the Editorial Board of “Pharmaceutical Journal”, “Ukrainian Scientific and Medical Youth Journal” and “Phytotherapy. Journal”; member of 2 specialized Scientific Councils: 13.00.02 – theory and methodology of teaching (medical and pharmaceutical disciplines), 15.00.01 – drug technology, organization of pharmaceutical business and forensic pharmacy; head of the cycle methodical commission in the specialty 226 “Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy” of the Bogomolets National Medical University.
Membership in professional associations: member of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP); academician of the National Academy of Higher Education of Ukraine; academician of the International Academy of Education of Ukraine; member of the Union of Educators of Ukraine; member of the Ukrainian Biochemical Society; member of the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy (EAFP); British Pharmacological Society; American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
State honors and awards: Honorary badge “Badge of Honor” of the Mayor of Kyiv; was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; 3 Honorary Certificates of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine; Honorary Certificate of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; Honorary diploma of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine and charter of the Kyiv City State Administration for conscientious work; in 2016 the honorary title Honorary Scientist and Technician of Ukraine was conferred; Certificate of honor “For significant achievements and personal contribution to the development of science of Ukraine”, Ukrainian Federation of Scientists, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Distinctions and awards of public organizations: order of Yaroslav Mudryy (NAS HE of Ukraine, 29.11.2022); order of St. Prince Volodymyr (NAS HE of Ukraine, 16.11.2021); order «Scientist of the Year» (national recognition, 19.11.2021); order “Medical Glory of Ukraine”; St. Volodymyr’s medal; medal “Flagship of Education and Science of Ukraine”; medal “For success in scientific and pedagogical activity”; Diploma and First Prize of the Academy of Higher Education of Ukraine in the nomination “Textbook” (2017, 2018, 2021); Diploma of the laureate of the first prize in the competition of the Academy of Sciences of Higher Education of Ukraine in the nomination “Best Edition of the Year” (2021).
