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. A competition will take place at the end of the camp; the winners will receive LAU scholarships if they enroll in the BS in Chemistry – Medicinal Chemistry track:
1st place: 20% scholarship
2nd place: 15% scholarship
3rd place: 10% scholarship
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 |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:15 | Registration and Breakfast |
Dr. Nathalie Hayeck Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
Medical School Building /Outdoor Area near Library |
| 09:30 - 09:45 | Chairperson’s Welcome to LAU | Dr. Nathalie Hayeck | Science Auditorium 402 |
| 09:50 - 10:25 | Platinum Chemistry | Dr. Robin Taleb | Science 403 |
| 10:30 - 12:30 |
Lab 1: Pt(II) Complex Synthesis
|
Dr. Areej Merhi | Chemistry Lab-Science 508 |
| 12:30 - 1:30 | Lunch | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht | Outdoor Area near Library |
| 1:30-2:30 | Wrap Up Lab Session |
Dr. Areej Merhi
|
Chemistry Lab-Science 508 |
| 2:30 - 3:00 | Campus Tour |
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht
|
Byblos Campus |
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht | Outdoor Area near Library |
| 09:00 - 09:15 |
Lab 2: Pt(II) Complex Synthesis
|
Dr. Areej Merhi | Chemistry Lab-Science 508 |
| 09:20 - 09:55 | Platinum Chemistry | Dr. Robin Taleb | Science 403 |
| 10:00 - 11:30 | Lab 3: Pt(SSDACH)(NO3)2 Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation | Dr. Areej Merhi | Chemistry Lab-Science 508 |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Lecture by SDEM/ FA | Frem Auditorium 205 | |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb |
Outdoor Area near Library |
| 01:30 - 03:30 | Lab 4: Purification of Pt(IV)5ClSS | Dr. Areej Merhi | Chemistry Lab-Science 508 |
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht | Outdoor Area near Library |
| 09:00 - 10:25 | Lab 5: Cellular uptake in A549 Cells | Dr. Stephanie Mehanna | Science Lab 501 |
| 10:30 - 11:55 | Drug Design | Dr. Robin Taleb | Science 403 |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Honor’s Program Lecture | Frem Auditorium 205 | |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb |
Outdoor Area near Library |
| 01:30 - 04:00 | Lab 6: Wrap Up Lab Session 1 | Dr. Areej Merhi | Chemistry Lab-Science 508 |
Thursday, July 9, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht | Outdoor Area near Library |
| 09:30 - 10:30 | Uptake, Fractionation and ICPMS | Dr. Robin Taleb | Science 403 |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | Social Activity | Science 403 | |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
Outdoor Area near Library |
| 01:30 - 04:00 |
Instrumental Session:
|
Dr. Stephanie Mehanna
Dr. Areej Merhi |
Chemistry Lab-Science 508 |
Friday, July 10, 2026
|
Date |
Program |
Person(s) Involved |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Breakfast | Mrs. Alissar Elbakht | Outdoor Area near Library |
| 09:00 - 11:00 | Data Analysis: SM | Dr. Stephanie Mehanna | Science 403 |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Quiz and Filling Evaluation Survey |
Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb |
Science 403 |
| 12:30 - 01:30 | Lunch |
Dr. Robin Taleb Mrs. Alissar Elbakht |
Outdoor Area near Library |
| 01:30 - 3:00 | Mini Lectures | TBA | Science 403 |
| 03:00 - 03:30 | Awards Ceremony | Dr. Nathalie Hayeck; Dr. Robin Taleb | Science Auditorium 402 |