University of Leeds to tailor its research capacity to pharma needs

The UK's University of Leeds has launched the Institute of Process Research and Development (iPRD) to link the university's chemistry and engineering academics with industry researchers on pharmaceutical production processes. "Global pharma can only meet increasingly tough demands from regulators for purity and reduced environmental footprint if it transitions to smarter, cleaner processes," commented Dr John Blacker, a member of the school of process, environmental and materials engineering. The iPRD's facilities are currently located at several laboratories at the university but will relocate to a new lab, office and training complex, which is scheduled for completion by 2009.