The Natural Products Chemistry Division led by Prof. Mikhail Krasavin received a research grant under the joint program by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) to work on the project titled 'Spirocyclic scaffolds as fatty acid mimetics for improved solubility, bioavailability and selectivity'. The project is a joint undertaking with the Goethe University Frankfurt team lead by Prof. Eugen Proschak.

"Spirocycles have been receiving special attention recently in the context of drug design. They have a pronounced three-dimensional shape which allows one to find an optimal molecular periphery to make the new drug molecule bind to its protein target with maximum efficiency and selectivity. Spirocycles carry a number of advantages compared to, say, flat aromatic heterocycles which are traditional building blocks for medicinal chemistry. Using spirocycle as a scaffold for the future drug molecule, one can achieve a better solubility, bioavailability and even metabolic stability," — Professor Krasavin commented. The project will continue for 3 years.