I’ve just returned from the Spring 2026 American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting in Atlanta, where I had the opportunity to engage across multiple dimensions of our field – from scientific exchange to shaping future research conversations.

In my role as Editor-in-Chief of ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, I participated in the Executive Committee and Long Range Planning Committee meetings of the ACS Medicinal Chemistry (MEDI) Division. These engagements are an important reminder that the direction of our science is not only determined in the laboratory, but also through the collective decisions we make about what to prioritise, convene and invest in as a global community.

I also presented work exploring the use of poly-pharmacology in antimalarial drug discovery – specifically how compounds, including certain kinase inhibitors originally developed for cancer, can be repurposed to target the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum through multiple mechanisms of action.

This approach is particularly relevant in the context of drug resistance, which remains one of the most persistent challenges in malaria treatment. By designing or identifying compounds that act on more than one biological target, we can potentially slow the emergence of resistance and extend the therapeutic lifespan of new medicines.

What continues to stand out to me is the importance of cross-disciplinary thinking – where insights from one disease area or therapeutic field can inform solutions in another. As our challenges become more complex, so too must our approaches.
Meetings such as ACS serve as a valuable platform not only to share data, but to reflect on how we collectively advance science in ways that are both innovative and impactful.