The Center for Drug Design was conceived by Robert Vince, Ph.D., medicinal chemist and researcher at the University of Minnesota. He is the holder of more than 20 patents in the anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-microbial fields, and is now the director of the Center. One of his most significant contributions was the design of carbovir, a potent anti-HIV/AIDS drug. This led to the establishment of the Center for Drug Design on January 8, 2002. At that time, Senior Vice President, Frank Cerra, MD, and the Council of Deans of the Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota voted on and approved its creation. The guiding principle behind the Center's creation is to unite efficient, high-level research with the design and development of highly effective drugs.