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Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA)

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Turning basic science discoveries into new medicines

Scientific breakthroughs are happening in labs at breakneck speed. Basic sciences advances have the potential to lead to transformational changes in which diseases are treatable--and how. But without proper investment into discoveries, promising ideas languish before they ever have an impact on patients.

The Stanford Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA), a Sarafan ChEM-H partnership with Stanford Medicine, was established to help translate promising Stanford discoveries into new medicines for patients. The IMA is built around two arms: one that prototypes new drugs and vaccines in the laboratory, and another that enables patient-facing research with the potential to identify and derisk our prototyping efforts.

Learn more about the Innovative Medicines Accelerator


"The breadth and depth of biology at Stanford is second to none. If this expertise can be more effectively coupled with state-of-the-art molecular design and analysis, the university could accelerate the engineering of innovative drug prototypes that will, in turn, spawn the next generation of medicines that cure disease or reduce the cost of hospitalization or professional services."

Chaitan Khosla

Founding Director, Sarafan ChEM-H
Director, Stanford Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA)
Wells H. Rauser and Harold M. Petiprin Professor in the School of Engineering


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