The Drug Discovery and Development Unit (DDDU) at the Biomedical and Clinical Research Centre (BCRC) is dedicated to pioneering advances in pharmaceutical research by harnessing Ghana’s rich phytomedicine heritage alongside modern scientific innovation.

Our mission is to identify, design, and develop novel therapeutic agents:

• rooted in both traditional medicine and cutting-edge discovery
• to address unmet global health needs.

Leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration and translational science, the Unit drives innovation across the drug development pipeline, from bioactive compound discovery and lead optimization to preclinical validation and early-phase clinical trials.

We specialize in:

• Ethnobotany and phytochemistry to systematically investigate Ghana’s medicinal plants
• Medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology to optimize natural product leads
• Pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and biomarker discovery to accelerate evidence-based therapeutic development

Our research integrates computational drug design, high-throughput screening, and mechanistic studies with indigenous knowledge, ensuring that Ghana’s biodiversity contributes meaningfully to global drug discovery. Strategic partnerships with local communities, academic institutions, hospitals, and industry enable the translation of traditional remedies into standardized, clinically validated therapies.

By bridging Ghana’s phytomedicine legacy with modern pharmaceutical science, the DDDU aims to:

• Unlock the therapeutic potential of African flora for infectious diseases, NCDs, and neglected conditions
• Develop sustainable, culturally informed drug development models
• Position Ghana as a leader in ethnopharmacology and natural product research

The Unit serves as a hub for transformative, globally relevant research, advancing health solutions that honor tradition while embracing scientific rigor.