The first meeting of the EPSRC Pharma Synthesis Network took place on 27th - 28^th November at Scarman House, University of Warwick.  The meeting was sponsored by the linked industrial companies and provided the first opportunity for all the students, academic supervisors and industrial contacts to meet.  The meeting formalised the formation of a new UK-wide synthetic chemistry community.  Members of the Network are committed to sharing expertise and training opportunities with the aim of strengthening the discipline within the UK.  The meeting began with the students presenting posters on their research projects, which provided an opportunity for a lively exchange of scientific ideas and a good chance for people to interact.  The remainder of the meeting was largely devoted to discussions about how the members of the group would interact and in particular how the web site would operate as the focal point of activities.  There was enthusiastic support for the project and delegates left with a determination to keep up the momentum that was set by the meeting.

Fifteen new EPSRC-Pharma Synthesis Studentships have been announced.  Following a successful and competitive call for proposals 15 awards have been made for new studentships to start in October 2008 and run for 4 years.  For more details click here.