| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/Y035011/1 |
| Title: |
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Accelerated Medicines Design & Development |
| Principal Investigator: |
Williams, Professor GR |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
School of Pharmacy |
| Organisation: |
UCL |
| Scheme: |
Centre for Doctoral Training |
| Starts: |
01 April 2025 |
Ends: |
30 September 2032 |
Value (£): |
6,093,845
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Drug Formulation & Delivery |
Med.Instrument.Device& Equip. |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Medicines are complex products. In addition to the drug (a molecule which causes a pharmacological effect in the body), they also contain a number of other ingredients (excipients). These are added for a variety of reasons (e.g. to ensure stability or to target the drug to a particular part of the body). A very careful assessment is required to prepare a potent and safe medicine.
New types of drug molecule are being devised rapidly and have the potential to transform patients' lives. However, there is a long time-lag (10 - 15 years) between the discovery of a new drug and its translation into a medicine. Most of this time is taken up by developing a suitable "formulation" (drug + excipients) and then testing this. There are very significant benefits that would be realised from accelerating the process: this was made clear by the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the rapid development of vaccines led to millions of lives being saved, and is particularly important as society ages and patients live for prolonged periods of time with multiple conditions.
The UK traditionally has been a powerhouse for medicines discovery, and the medical technology and pharmaceutical sector is still a vital part of the economy. However, productivity has recently declined, and compared to peer countries the UK has a lack of high-innovation firms. If medicines development can be accelerated in the UK, there will be huge economic and societal benefits, in addition to profound improvements to the lives of individual patients.
To realise this ambition, the UK pharmaceutical sector needs highly-trained, doctoral-level, scientists with the skills required to accelerate research programmes in medicines development. The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Accelerated Medicines Design & Development seeks to meet this user need, by building a cohort of innovators and future leaders. We will do this between two universities and in collaboration with a network of industrial and clinical partners from across the UK pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical technologies sector.
Comprehensive science training will enable our students to develop the high-level laboratory and computational skills needed to overcome the major challenges in medicines development. Our alumni will be expert practitioners at integrating lab and digital research, recognised by industry as crucial to accelerate medicines development. Our students will receive extensive transferable skills training, ensuring that they graduate with high-level teamworking, communication, leadership and entrepreneurial skills. We will foster an open and supportive environment in which students can challenge ideas, experiment, and learn from mistakes. Equality, diversity and inclusiveness, sustainability, and responsible innovation will be at the heart of the CDT, and embedded throughout our training.
By liaising closely with industry and clinical partners, we will ensure that the research undertaken in the CDT is directly relevant to the most significant current challenges in medicines development. We will further embed interactions with patients to ensure that the products are acceptable to both patients and clinicians. This will allow us to directly contribute to the acceleration of medicines development, and ultimately will deliver major benefits to patients as new products come on to the market.
Our graduates will join companies across the pharmaceutical, medical technology and healthcare fields, where they will innovate and drive forward research programmes to accelerate medicines development for a broad range of diseases. They will ensure that new therapies come to market and the health and well-being of individuals across the world is improved. Others will enter academia, training the next generation. Our alumni will seed a future landscape in which medicines are designed and manufactured in a manner which protects our environment, and in which there is equality of opportunity for all.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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