College of Pharmacy receives charitable investment to further AI-enabled drug discovery research

The College of Pharmacy received a grant to establish the AI-Enabled Drug Discovery Fund, which will support numerous research projects across the College of Pharmacy focused on accelerating oncology drug discovery through artificial intelligence. 

The fund was established through a generous gift from the CM Chen Foundation and alumnus Chih-Ming Chen, PhD '81, continuing Dr. Chen's long history of philanthropic support for the college, dating back to 2013. Dr. Chen and the CM Chen Foundation established the Sylvan G. Frank Chair in honor of Dr. Frank, a dedicated mentor whose pioneering work in pharmaceutics and drug delivery influenced generations of students—including Dr. Chen himself.  

The fund will enable a three-year research project titled “Accelerated Oncology Drug Discovery Driven by Artificial Intelligence,” led by Xiaolin Cheng, PhD, professor in the Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology. His project aims to generate novel small-molecule lead compounds for oncology targets, with an emphasis on lung cancer and broader cross-cancer application.

“Dr. Chih-Ming Chen’s generous support will accelerate our efforts to harness artificial intelligence for oncology drug discovery, helping us translate innovative technologies into promising new therapeutic opportunities,” Dr. Cheng said. “We are deeply grateful for his vision and commitment to advancing this important strategic priority for the college.”

Dr. Cheng's project builds on the college's growing leadership in AI-enabled biomedical innovation. Earlier this year, Dr. Cheng and Dean Deanna Kroetz, PhD, BS Pharm '85, helped establish Buckeye BioLaunch, an AI-powered initiative that supports projects across the full continuum of drug development, from genomics and target identification to molecule discovery and therapeutic development. Together, these efforts are advancing the college's vision of leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the path from scientific discovery to patient impact.