US-based Micromeritics, a leading supplier of materials characterisation analytical laboratory instrumentation and services, has announced it will be participating in pharmaceutical material testing technique training for a unique undergraduate programme offered by the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy.
The Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy at the University of Georgia has developed a new Bachelor of Science (BS) Pharmaceutical Sciences undergraduate programme, which provides specialised training for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry through academic and laboratory course-work. Micromeritics has been asked to assist in the Drug Development Laboratory section of this programme by participating in the training laboratories for a number of materials testing techniques used in the pharmaceutical industry.
One of the major goals of this new degree programme is to create students with a better balance of chemistry and biology, along with an improved understanding of their application to the drug discovery and development process. The education received from this programme will provide both pharmaceutical companies and specialised Master of Science (MS) and PhD programmes graduates with more appropriate skills and knowledge. The University of Georgia is one of a handful of institutions providing this specialised level of education in pharmaceutical sciences.
Besides offering a well-rounded classroom curriculum, the programme includes a Drug Development Laboratory section that emphasises US Pharmacopeia (USP) methods for testing pharmaceutical materials. Micromeritics scientists will assist in the laboratory sessions on particle size, surface area, and density techniques. These labs will also include demonstrations of Micromeritics’ instruments used by the pharmaceutical industry to obtain these measurements. Demonstration instruments include the Saturn DigiSizer II Laser High-Definition Analyzer for measuring particle size, Particle InSight Dynamic Image Analyzer for measuring particle size and shape, TriStar II for measuring surface area and porosity, and AccuPyc II Gas Displacement Pycnometer for determining true and skeletal density.
Micromeritics and its scientific staff are proud to support the University of Georgia and this pioneering effort, now and for many years to come.