The group interests focus on peptide and protein chemistry from three different points of view: design, synthesis and structure of bioactive molecules. From a structural perspective the research group applies modern NMR techniques to the study of complex molecular recognition processes. We place special emphasis on the study of dynamic properties of proteins and the design of specific ligands that are able to interact with protein surfaces. The research group is also interested in applied science; this is especially shown in the projects related with the therapeutic value of these molecules. In recent years we have been involved in the study of studies about synthetic vaccines, inhibitors of amyloid protein aggregation and antitumoural peptides from marine organisms.

Our group started in 1974 in the Organic Chemistry Department at the University of Barcelona. From the very beginning our scientific activity was centered in peptide molecules. However, during all these years the emphasis has expanded from its synthesis to its structure and biological activity and, at the same time, from peptides to larger biomolecules including small and medium-sized proteins.

Ernest Giralt has a double appointment, he is as member of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Barcelona (IRB Barcelona) at the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB) and a Professor of the Organic Chemistry Department at the University of Barcelona.

Our group is part of the "Unitat de Síntesi i Estructura de Pèptids i Àcids Nucleics" del Xarxa de Referència en Biotecnologia de la Generalitat de Catalunya.