28.10.09:
$500K ARC Linkage Grant Awarded to Synectix

Significant ARC Linkage grant will bring Synectix Pharmaceutical Solutions and top scientists from the University of Sydney together

The Australian Research Council (ARC) is supporting a $500,000 linkage project (ARC-LP100100451) which partners Synectix Pharmaceutical Solutions Ltd and the Advanced Drug Delivery group (Dr Daniela Traini, A/Prof Paul M Young and Prof Kim Chan) at Sydney University to boost research in the area of inhalation formulation science.

In this project, a fundamental understanding of the properties that govern interactions within and between composite micro-particles containing a small drug molecule and a performance enhancer will be investigated. Utilizing a combination of physico-chemical analysis, computational chemistry and aerosol science, a theoretical model that will allow the preparation of high-efficiency inhalation medicines with desired physical properties for the treatment of respiratory diseases will be developed.

In industry there is a huge demand for high-performance and stable products – and formulation design has been identified as being key in their development. Now researchers working on the three-year ARC-Linkage project are aiming to bring together industrial European expertise and Australian scientific knowledge, in this area, to enhance understanding of the subject.

Dr Mark Saunders, Development Director at Synectix comments “obtaining this ARC Linkage grant is a significant milestone for Synectix and will allow us to expand on our ongoing research programs in new technology development in the field of pharmaceutical materials and formulations science. Since founding Synectix, research has always been key to the successful growth of our company and collaborating with world class scientists from the University of Sydney will allow us to build on our already expanding portfolio of drug delivery technologies. We look forward to beginning this exciting new collaboration.