Waterford Institute of Technology: Office of Research and Innovation

Leading innovative research for pharma sector

WIT’s Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC) has been awarded €5.2 million in competitive research funding to support the establishment of a new state-of-the-art research centre.

Funding has been secured from Enterprise Ireland’s (EI) Applied Research Enhancement Initiative, EI’s Innovation Partnership with Genzyme Ireland Ltd, the Technological Sector Research Initiatives (Strand I & Strand III), HEA Research Facilities Enhancement Scheme 2008, and HEA and EI Infrastructure grants.

The PMBRC comprises a research team with proven expertise in chemical, pharmaceutical and biomedical research and links to international experts and specialists in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. The 40 strong research team has recently taken up residence in the new 700m2 Centre located on the main WIT campus.

A key objective of the Centre is to act as a catalyst for regional innovation through the generation of new knowledge for the benefit of the region’s pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical stakeholders. The future growth of these enterprises is critically dependent on embedding research and innovation into their development. The PMBRC will facilitate such innovation by supporting the sustainable development of these important sectors in the region.

Case Study
EirGen Pharma Ltd, an Irish owned pharmaceutical company based in Waterford, is involved in a collaborative project with the PMBRC in the development of unique polymeric drug delivery technologies. In support of the PMBRC, Mr. Tom Brennan, Technical Director, comments “EirGen’s involvement in novel drug delivery technologies moves the company up the value chain and away from generic product development which is the long term goal of the organisation”.

Case Study

EirGen Pharma Ltd, an Irish owned pharmaceutical company based in Waterford, is involved in a collaborative project with the PMBRC in the development of unique polymeric drug delivery technologies. In support of the PMBRC, Mr. Tom Brennan, Technical Director, comments “EirGen’s involvement in novel drug delivery technologies moves the company up the value chain and away from generic product development which is the long term goal of the organisation”.

Collaborations

The PMBRC currently maintains links with Cardiff University; the Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing; the Tyndall Nationa Institute, DCU; QUB; Kings College London; EirGen Pharma Ltd; Merck, Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd; GlaxoSmithKline; Bausch & Lomb; TEVA; and Genzyme Ireland Ltd.

Innovation Network

Collaborations with industry in the South East will be further enhanced by the recent establishment of the Innovation Network which was launched on 9th April 2008 (supported by INTERREG IIIA). The Innovation Network will embed links between industry and WIT and will play an integral role in the future of the PMBRC. The role of the Innovation Network is to bring industry leaders and academic researchers together to discuss challenges faced by industry and to promote sustainable research and development in the region.

Research Activities

The PMBRC’s major research activities include:

Polymeric drug delivery technologies (incorporating ophthalmic, oral and respiratory drug delivery)
Novel process technologies (analytical and catalytic applications)
Separation Science
Molecular Biotechnology (biotransformations and therapeutic molecules)
Nanotechnology:
- Novel sensor technologies based on plasmonic nanostructures
- Organic electronics

This is an exciting time for everyone involved in the PMBRC. Over the past two years the group has dedicated much of its time to investigating the needs of local industry. The Centre now has the opportunity and the resources to establish accredited laboratories which will further enhance collaborations with industry. Industrial involvement will bring the research of the centre to the next level providing the know-how to turn ideas into innovative products of commercial value. The success of the PMBRC in attracting funding has provided the infrastructure, resources and, most importantly, the high-end personnel needed to develop a sustainable centre of excellence.

Facilities & Equipment in the PMBRC
Jeol 400 MHz NMR (including solid state probe) Malvern Mastersizer 2000 - Particle Size Analyser Gemini VI 2385C - Surface Area & Pore Size Analyser Agilent HPLC-Chip/MS System Agilent 1200 Series Rapid Resolution LC Systems GC-MS with specialist programmable solids probe Atomic Force Microscope - (Contact & Non-contact) ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometer) Elipsometer, Differential Scanning Calorimeter & Thermal Gravimetric Analyser Fluorescence Spectrophotometer Mid/Far/Near IR & Mid IR Microscope Scanning Force Microscopy, Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy, Thin film preparation (Thermal Evaporation) and ultra low light level spectroscopy.

Facilities & Equipment in the PMBRC

Jeol 400 MHz NMR (including solid state probe)
Malvern Mastersizer 2000 - Particle Size Analyser
Gemini VI 2385C - Surface Area & Pore Size Analyser Agilent HPLC-Chip/MS System
Agilent 1200 Series Rapid Resolution LC Systems GC-MS with specialist programmable solids probe
Atomic Force Microscope - (Contact & Non-contact)
ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometer)
Elipsometer, Differential Scanning Calorimeter & Thermal Gravimetric Analyser
Fluorescence Spectrophotometer
Mid/Far/Near IR & Mid IR Microscope
Scanning Force Microscopy, Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy, Thin film preparation (Thermal Evaporation) and ultra low light level spectroscopy.

For more information contact:
Dr Peter McLoughlin E-mail: pmcloughlin@wit.ie Or go to the PMBRC website

For more information contact:

Dr Peter McLoughlin
E-mail: pmcloughlin@wit.ie

Or go to the PMBRC website