Drug Design Chemistry Summer Camp (Byblos Campus)
This summer camp provides high school students with an immersive experience in drug design, focusing on platinum-based complexes used in medicinal chemistry. Through a combination of lectures, seminars and hands-on experimental work, students will explore the fundamental principles of metal-based drug design, synthesis and analysis. The camp will guide participants through the design and characterization of platinum complexes in different oxidation states and investigate their interaction with biological systems, including cellular uptake studies.
Camp Objectives
1
Introduce students to the fundamentals of drug design with a focus on platinum-based therapeutics, as well as explore the chemistry and biological applications of platinum complexes in medicine.
2
Teach methods for synthesizing and characterizing platinum complexes in different oxidation states, along with providing hands-on experience in spectroscopic and analytical techniques for chemical characterization.
3
Investigate the cellular uptake of platinum-based drugs and their potential mechanisms of action, as well as enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills through experimental design and data interpretation.
4
Inspire students to pursue careers in medicinal chemistry, pharmaceuticals or related scientific fields.
Monday, July 6, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:15 | Registration and Breakfast |
Dr. Nathalie Hayeck Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 09:30 - 09:45 | Chairperson’s Welcome to LAU | Dr. Nathalie Hayeck |
| 09:50 - 10:25 | Platinum Chemistry | Dr. Robin Taleb |
| 10:30 - 12:30 |
Lab 1: Pt(II) Complex Synthesis
|
Dr. Areej Merhi |
| 12:30 - 1:30 | Lunch | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 1:30-2:30 | Wrap Up Lab Session | Dr. Areej Merhi |
| 2:30 - 3:00 | Campus Tour | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 09:00 - 09:15 |
Lab 2: Pt(II) Complex Synthesis
|
Dr. Areej Merhi |
| 09:20 - 09:55 | Platinum Chemistry | Dr. Robin Taleb |
| 10:00 - 11:30 | Lab 3: Pt(SSDACH)(NO3)2 Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation | Dr. Areej Merhi |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Lecture by Student life on campus and Financial aid | |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb |
| 01:30 - 03:30 | Lab 4: Purification of Pt(IV)5ClSS | Dr. Areej Merhi |
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 09:00 - 10:25 | Lab 5: Wrap Up Lab Session 1 | Dr. Areej Merhi |
| 10:30 - 11:55 | Drug Design | Dr. Robin Taleb |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Honor’s Program Lecture | |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb |
| 01:30 - 04:00 | Lab 6: Cellular uptake in A549 Cells | Dr. Stephanie Mehanna |
Thursday, July 9, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 09:30 - 10:30 | Uptake, Fractionation and ICPMS | Dr. Robin Taleb |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | Social Activity | |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 01:30 - 04:00 |
Instrumental Session:
|
Dr. Stephanie Mehanna Dr. Areej Merhi |
Friday, July 10, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 09:00 - 11:00 | Data Analysis: SM | Dr. Stephanie Mehanna |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Quiz and Filling Evaluation Survey |
Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
| 01:30 - 3:00 | Mini Lectures | TBA |
| 03:00 - 03:30 | Awards Ceremony | Dr. Robin Taleb |