• structure-activity relationship (SAR) of centrally acting agents;
• computer-aided drug design;
• design and search for new antidepressant and anxiolytic agents;
• G-protein-coupled receptors;
• molecular mechanism of ligand-receptor interactions;
• molecular modelling;
• heterocyclic chemistry;
• stereochemistry and conformational analysis of organic compounds.

Organic synthesis:
- alkylation of amines and amides;
- amide bond formation;
- reduction and oxidation processes;
- synthesis of heterocyclic ring systems;
- benzotriazole as a synthon in N- or C-alkylation.

Biochemical:
- radioligand binding to various subtypes of serotonergic (5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, 5HT₆, 5HT₇), adrenergic (alpha₁ and alpha₂), and dopaminergic (D₁ and D₂) receptors.

Molecular modelling:
- homology modelling of GPCR;
- ligand docking;
- virtual screening;
- advanced methods of a computer analysis of drug-receptor interaction;
- theoretical conformational analysis;
- calculation of some physico-chemical parameters of organic molecules.

The Department cooperates with:

the Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta (USA)

- quantitative structure activity relationships studies in the group of substituted 2-phenylquinolin-4-amines, antagonists of immunostimulatory CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides;

the Pharmacy Department, University Hospital Centre, Lausanne (Switzerland)

- the examination of the phenomenon of „dissolvance” (constraints experienced by components of a complex system as a result of their transactions);

the Institute of Organic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Orleans (France)

- search for new serotonergic receptor ligands.

Engineers, Technicians, and Other Employees: