Targeted chemical synthesis at an early stage after large-scale screens is the major unmet need in  current chemical biology and translational efforts. This type of medicinal chemistry, which requires specialized expertise and equipment, is not available to most biomedical investigators. A shared facility can provide access to this  critical chemistry at a lower  expense than would be possible with a large number of individual efforts. The focused chemical synthesis programs will be dedicated to the optimization of lead compounds discovered from screening projects. Optimization will focus on enhancement of therapeutic properties including potency and selectivity, as well as bioavailability and toxicity. Currently, the CGCF is equipped with three chemical fume hoods (two 8-feet and one 6-feet, Hamilton), HPLCs as well as the standard equipment (rotary evaporators, glassware, heaters, balances, etc.) required for organic synthesis.