Where Nature Inspires Innovation: University of Kansas Prof. Apurba Dutta visits Sai

Dr. Apurba Dutta, Associate Professor at Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, USA, recently visited our Sai Life Sciences campus to deliver a masterclass on “A serine-derived second-generation chiron: Applications in the synthesis of natural and nature-like molecular scaffolds.”
During the session, he explored how simple natural molecules can serve as versatile building blocks for designing complex, biologically relevant compounds. He shared insights into nitrogen-containing molecules, which play a crucial role in many medicinally important compounds, and discussed strategies for synthesizing them efficiently with high precision.

The masterclass offered a unique opportunity for our teams to learn directly from a leading academic expert, gaining fresh perspectives on how nature inspires innovation in medicinal chemistry.
Dr. Dutta’s research focuses on the design and synthesis of bioactive natural and non-natural compounds targeting anti-infective and anti-cancer pathways. His work spans asymmetric synthesis, chiral methodologies, and medicinal chemistry applications. He received his Ph.D. from the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India (1989). Subsequently he was an Alexander von Humboldt post-doctoral fellow at the University of Konstanz, Germany (1991-1992) followed by a second post-doctoral stint at the University of Kansas, USA (1993-1995).

At Sai, we value such interactions with academic leaders, as they enrich our scientific approach and strengthen our commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, and the discovery of new solutions in drug development.