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 gathers 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, Saarbrücken, Düsseldorf) 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 modeling. GP2A gives an opportunity, especially to young scientists, to strengthen and extend their collaboration and exchange programs. 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 2008, the Conferences were held in Caen (University of Caen Basse Normandie) and were organized by the “Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament” (CERMN)—UPRES EA 4258. At the start of the year 2008, there were more than 23,000 students in the University of Caen Basse Normandie and a wide program of courses is offered in agronomy, art and design, law, medical sciences, medicinal and pharmaceutical sciences, social and human sciences, sports, etc.
The main topics of the 2008 edition—May 28–30—are Drug discovery, Drug design, Medicinal chemistry, Conception and synthesis of new compound libraries, Natural products, and Bioactive marine natural products. 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), Bordeaux (2007), and Caen (2008); we look forward to attending an exciting meeting in Dublin in 2009 (September 3–4).
Guillaume Le Baut, Marc Le Borgne and Fredesic Fabis
Guest Editors