Discovering new medicines

Three young University of Groningen scientists are set to begin conducting research abroad, funded by prestigious Rubicon grants awarded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). Among them is Marnix Medema, who studies the substances made by bacteria and fungi. These can be used in antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs. By sampling as wide a range of chemical, genetic and ecological diversity as possible with a computer, Medema wants to track down new medicines in the biochemical universe.

The weekly online video magazine Unifocus highlights topics related to the University of Groningen in the fields of research and society, student life, teaching, policy and internationalization.