From natural substance to active ingredient

Prof. Dr Dieter Schinzer is a chemist by passion and has been working at the University of Magdeburg for many years. From 1997 to 2022, he held the chair of Organic Chemistry; since October 2022, he has been a senior professor at the Institute of Chemistry. His research focuses on the synthesis of complex natural products and their potential as active compounds. Among other things, he concentrates on new therapies for cancer, serious infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. His aim is not merely to replicate natural compounds in the laboratory: he seeks to specifically modify their structures in order to develop new, more effective drug candidates. He is also increasingly interested in personalised treatment approaches, for which he works closely with biologists and medical professionals.

How would you explain to your 12-year-old self what you do for a living today?

I would explain to my 12-year-old self that my current work is simply a continuation, at a higher level, of the experiments I carried out in chemistry and physics back in the mid-1960s. The resources have simply improved significantly: instead of ‘Kosmos’ experiment kits and a chemistry lab in the cellar, I now have state-of-the-art research laboratories and, in addition, highly motivated and qualified staff.

At what point did you realise: ‘This is my research topic’?

My current field of research has evolved over the years, as the questions have become increasingly complex and have been greatly enriched by my work at internationally renowned research institutes abroad.

What is the most common misconception you encounter about your research?

Throughout my scientific career, my main focus has been on working with other researchers to develop new and more effective medicines from biologically active substances. People often underestimate the costs involved in such developments, and that many of them ultimately fail anyway.

What do you do when you’re not doing research?

I’m interested in astronomy and own various telescopes, which I also use for astrophotography – though I’ve actually been doing that since I was at school. For an astronomical event such as a solar eclipse, I go to considerable lengths to find a suitable location offering the best viewing conditions.

If you could wish for one thing for your research, what would it be?

At the moment, I’m really feeling a sense of excitement, as, in addition to the fantastic research results, completely new laboratories are now being built according to our design. However, I find the separation of capital and personnel funding extremely bureaucratic, as it leads to unnecessary delays in projects. Therefore, unbureaucratic and flexible solutions for the use of project funds would be a great advantage and would lead to important research results much more efficiently.