The “Groupement des Pharmacochimistes de l'Arc Atlantique” (GP2A) or Group of Medicinal Chemists of the Atlantic Arc is a study group on research and teaching in Medicinal Chemistry, which was created in 1992. It embraces medicinal chemists, mainly working in Faculties of Pharmacy and located in the different regions of the Atlantic Arc in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal. More recently, this grouping has welcomed new members who do not belong stricto sensu to this area (such as Lille, Saarbruck, Duesseldorf), in the framework of the GP2A network. This Grouping constitutes a focus for the exchange of ideas among scientists (including undergraduates) interested in basic research in medicinal chemistry but also in special areas of research in drug design, including combinatorial chemistry, quantitative structure-activity relationships and molecular modelling. GP2A gives an opportunity, especially to young scientists, to strengthen and extend their collaboration and exchange programmes. The circle is open to external participation and is mainly constituted on the basis of previously existing bilateral co-operations between various laboratories. At the instigation of the starting core, it was decided to hold a scientific meeting each year in the shape of the GP2A Conferences.
In 2007, the Conferences were held in Bordeaux (University of Bordeaux 2 – Région Aquitaine) and were organized by the department of “Pharmacochimie” – EA 4138. At the start of the year 2007, there were more than 18,500 students in the University of Bordeaux 2 and a wide programme of courses is offered in medicinal & pharmaceutical sciences, oenology, sports, cognitic, social & human sciences.
The main topics of the 2007 edition - September 6 & 7, concerned microwave-assisted medicinal chemistry, conception and synthesis of new derivatives in the fight against cancer and parasitic diseases, place of crystallography in pharmaceutical chemistry, and development of radiopharmaceuticals. The steering committee makes a point of thanking all the young researchers of the various GP2A laboratories for the presentation of their work.
Previous GP2A Conferences took place in Bordeaux (1992), Caen (1993), Cardiff (1994), Angers (1995), Glasgow (1996), Rennes (1997), Caen (1998), Cardiff (1999), Tours (2000), Nantes (2001), Caen (2002), La Rochelle (2003), Rennes (2004), Angers (2005), Bath (2006) and Bordeaux (2007); we look forward to attending an exciting meeting in Caen in 2008 (May 28–30).