Irish pharma firm, University of Ulster form research partnership

The donation will create the Norbrook Laboratories Professorship within the new Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University’s Coleraine campus and will directly contribute to the University’s Biomedical Sciences Research Institute.

The partnership with the pharmaceuticals firm will focus on important commercial aspects of drug formulation, delivery, metabolism and detection and will enable a further strategic expansion of the University of Ulster’s Biomedical Sciences base.

Biomedical Sciences Research Institute director Tony Bjourson said developing any drug for a particular disease is an important first step, but understanding how a drug is formulated, how stable it is, and the actual way to deliver that drug, is just as critical for the pharmaceutical industry and the end-user.

"A key focus in Biomedical Sciences is the translation of our research into useful products and services that positively impact on economic development and are of societal benefit and this donation strongly supports that ethos," Bjourson said.

University of Ulster visiting professor and Norbrook director James Haughey said this area of science is most important for the development of new drugs to support industry within in Northern Ireland as well as internationally.

"Furthermore it will provide support to students qualifying in Pharmacy and the Chair will create a larger reservoir of knowledge for the Government, the Health Service and the public in general," Haughey said.

"I am most impressed with the quality and ability of the students and staff at the University of Ulster and I readily support our company’s decision to contribute to the creation of a Chair in Pharmacy. I look forward with great hope and believe we will find the appropriate candidate who will further the expertise and experience of this Faculty."