Preface to the Special Issue —The Future of Medicinal Chemistry Shaped by Diversity—

Abstract

Medicinal chemistry has evolved from its foundations in organic synthesis into an interdisciplinary science, now integrating chemical biology and diverse therapeutic modalities. The development of innovative medicines increasingly requires collaborative drug discovery, where academia, industry, and biotech ventures combine their strengths. The COVID-19 response exemplified this, as diverse foundational technologies converged through collaborative efforts to deliver vaccines and therapeutics in a remarkably short time. Such advances underscore the need for diverse expertise and perspectives, including the active participation of women researchers. Globally, efforts to highlight and support women in medicinal chemistry are expanding, yet in Japan women still account for only 18.5% of all researchers, indicating substantial untapped potential. This special issue, Women Shaping the Future of Medicinal Chemistry, presents the challenges and achievements of leading women researchers in Japan, offering a vision of how diversity is shaping the future of the field.