11 US Universities Seek to Optimize Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

A group of 11 US universities are forming a partnership in collaboration with the FDA to seek methods for reducing costs in drug development and manufacturing.

The collaboration will be called the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education and will include:

• Duquesne University: Alan Seadler, chairman, Biotechnology Leadership; James Drennen, associate professor of pharmaceutics;
• Illinois Institute of Technology: Ali Cinar, dean of graduate college; Dimitri Hatziavramidis, research professor of chemical engineering and director of the particle technology and crystallization center.
• Purdue University: Prabir Basu, director of the institute; Stephen Byrn, head of the department of industrial pharmacy; Charles Rutledge, vice president for research; G.V. Reklaitis, professor of chemical engineering.
• Rutgers University: Michael Klein, dean of the school of engineering; Fernando Muzzio, professor of chemical engineering.
• University of Puerto Rico: Lesbia Hernandez, dean (San Juan); Nelson Cardona, dean (Mayaguez); Evone Ghaly, associate director of the center for pharmaceutical processing research; Rodolfo Romanach, professor of chemistry; Carlos Velazquez, professor of chemical engineering.
• University of Connecticut: Robert McCarthy, dean and professor of the school of pharmacy; Michael Pikal, endowed chair of pharmaceutical technology; Robin Bogner, associate professor of pharmaceutics.
• University of Iowa: Rolland Poust, professor of pharmaceutics; Lee Kirsch, associate professor of pharmaceutics.
• University of Kansas: James Roberts, professor of electrical engineering and vice provost for research; Vadim Gurvich, assistant director of the center for drug discovery; Eric Munson, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry.
• University of Kentucky: John Parks, associate vice president for research; Michael Jay, professor of pharmaceutical sciences.
• University of Maryland School of Pharmacy: James L. Hughes, vice president of research and development; Stephen Hoag, professor of pharmacy.
• University of Minnesota: Marilyn Speedie, dean of the College of Pharmacy; Raj G. Suryanarayanan, professor of pharmaceutics; David Grant, professor of pharmaceutics.

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the organization is “initially focused on lobbying Congress for funding.” The Indianapolis Star newspaper reported that the group will seek $25 million in federal funds through the FDA to run the center.

While the university group includes institutions in Indiana, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico, areas with large pharma representation, while North Carolina, a state with a large pharma segment, is conspicuously absent.