A new initiative from the UGA College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences (PBS) will allow faculty members to partner with other drug discovery experts from the College; fellow UGA colleges, schools, and units; and external leaders in the field.

Innovations in Drug Discovery (IDD) is an interdisciplinary faculty collaborative established in fall 2025. IDD works to partner with colleagues in the field of drug discovery to: 

• develop and maintain a strategic vision of the IDD collaborative that will serve as a guiding force—now and in the future
• foster strategic collaborations within the PBS department, the College of Pharmacy, the University of Georgia community, and external stakeholders that will catapult the notoriety and reputation of these partners in the field of drug discovery 
• mentor fellow faculty and trainees, supporting their growth in drug discovery
• collectively pursue extramural funding to strengthen the research environment for drug discovery at the College of Pharmacy and UGA
• organize seminars, workshops, and symposia to enhance scholarly exchange and expand the thinking of drug discovery
• facilitate the translation of discoveries into therapeutic opportunities by creating and enhancing various partnerships 
• collaborate within the PBS department, the College, and beyond to develop initiatives that build research infrastructures and create shared resources to support faculty 

Co-chaired by Drs. David Crich, Georgia Research Alliance and David Chu Eminent Scholar in Drug Design and PBS Professor, and Rob Huigens, PBS Associate Professor, members of the Innovations in Drug Discovery collaborative offer unique depth of expertise in cancer biology, microbiology, aging biology, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and drug development.  Specifically, IDD team members focus on drug discoveries in the areas of cancer, bacterial and viral infections, and aging.  Members are:

Dr. Yaguang Xi, Department Head, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences; UGA Athletic Association Distinguished Professor in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. David Crich, IDD Co-Director

Dr. Robert Huigens, IDD Co-Director

Dr. Eugene Douglass, PBS Assistant Professor

Dr. Uma Singh, PBS Assistant Research Scientist and Lecturer

Dr. Bin Yi, PBS Associate Research Scientist

Dr. Lei Zhang, PBS Assistant Professor

For further information about the IDD collaborative, contact Dr. Rob Huigens.