Conference report: trekking through receptor chemistry.

The series of Camerino Symposia present the most recent knowledge and discoveries in the growing field of drug-receptor interactions and the design and mechanisms of drug action. Lead discovery, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and polypharmacology were the general subjects covered in this Tripartite European Meeting in Medicinal Chemistry chaired by Mario Giannella (University of Camerino, Italy). Specifically, the meeting focused on the selection criteria and application of computational methods and stem cell technology in/to lead discovery, as well as providing an update on targeting GPCRs. In addition, the importance of polypharmacology in drug discovery for many GPCRs was widely highlighted. Approximately 110 participants in an international audience composed principally of chemists, biochemists and pharmacologists spent the 5 days of the conference in the eye-catching medieval setting of the University of Camerino and enjoyed both the scientific and cultural programs.